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GM: Kaatje
Players: Baron, Slinger, Dane
Synopsis: A mixed up middle manager hires some runners to bring back his daughter. It is unclear if she has been kidnapped or run away, and the runners find themselves having to negotiate with teenage gangers and dodging the turf wars between both the Knight and the Star before the night is through.
Date: Feb 12, 2060
Through your contacts you've heard of a Corp manager sniffing around for some shadow hiring to do some personal bussiness. Something about him being worried over his daughter. Then tonight you get a message that the guy has come to a certain fixer you know frantic for help saying his daughter has been kidnapped and the authorities won't do anything so he needs to hire immediate outside help.
The meet is inside a McHughs Fast Food resturant on the edge of an area largely controlled by Ares in the UCAS sector.
Baron makes his way early to McHughs, and orders three meals, for him, a chicken sandwich, a big Mchugh, and salad with lots of dressing, and three apple pies, and a very large fizzy coke. He then finds himself a place to sit and watch while he eats, and eats, and eats.
Damn. Kidnapping, hostage situations. Slinger hates those — and yet, he's a sucker for them. Yes, he'll answer the call. Time and place he asks for from his fixer who, he knows, is probably going to end up with a cut. Kidnapping daughters, though, especially ones who are underage — well, Slinger may not actually like being /around/ kids, but he won't tolerate them being harmed or abused.
It offends his sense of honor.
To be on the safe side, Slinger drives there, parks a few blocks away. And when he emerges from the disguised SUV, he looks like a slightly older version of himself — though just different enough to make recognizing him difficult. He has a small soul patch, and is dressed in Saints colors. The young elf strides toward the McHughs, with a small swagger in his step to hide the sense of urgency.
Dane has been a little lax with the shadow work lately, but also… running short on that stuff called nuyen. After hearing the scoop on this, though, he decides to go ahead and dress up in tee shirt and jeans and the general deerhide leather jacket, and then he wanders into McHughs. For now, he just grabs a lemon-flavored water and then searches for the Johnson. Somewhere outside, he has left his vehicle, a matte black ford americar.
The McHughs is just like all the others, thick bulltet-proof glass, automated cleaning drones and plasticrete with some bored staff behind the counter because some suit decided that food quality was perceived as higher if prepared by a metahuman. Off in one corner is a distraught looking middle-aged human, fair skin and graying brown hair in a suit that screems manager. He wears sunglasses that screem he's trying not to be noticed or identified nervously glancing around the room.
Baron gets up from his table, after finishing most of his meal, he grabs his fizzy coke in one hand, and the three apple pies in the other, he waddles, yes, waddles his way over to the man and nods "You the guy with the child custody issue?" he takes a slurp of his fizzy coke.
The Saints ganger strides in through the front door. He'll take his time, ordering, first. Even if the people behind the counter might be a little edgy, he nonetheless gives his order without any real problems — just a faint sneer on his youthful features. Once it's delivered, he slots his credstick — and that, at least, seems to be good.
He takes the tray, looking around for a place to sit — and settles for the spot right next to the middle manager.
Dane turns from the coutner with his lemon water, glances over to Slinger, having to stare at him a moment before registering the colors and just who it really is. He nods to him a little but does not say anything yet, meandering over to the place with the suit, settling into a seat that has not been taken.
The man gulps as the unsavory sorts join him, having an untouched HughMeal in front of him. He looks over at Baron and nods, "Uh Yeah. Jeff Fibts Order Manager for Ares RAO Denv…er I mean I'm Mr. Johnson." He gulps at his own slip, "Uhm. Look I don't do this sorta thing but I know my daughter is in trouble. She's …fallen into a bad group and now she's gone and told me she's not coming home. I know that troll's taken her and I need your help."
Baron squeezes his way into the booth, nodding to the man, and then to the other two runners that decide to join him. He opens one of the apple pies and starts to eat, speaking only after he has swallowed his food, he does have manners "So, what group of bad guys has her Mr. Johnson."
Jeff looks over to Baron, "They call themselves the Red Eagles, its a gang, and they've got my poor girl thinking she's one of them!"
"I..I can pay! I just want her back and safe. I want you to make sure they won't be able to get her again." He adds.
«Auto-Judge[]» Baron (#3002) rolls Gang Turf for "Where do these red eagles hang out?":
3 5 8 10
GM whisper "Its odd you've never heard of any Red Eagles as a street gang." to Baron.
Dane finally speaks in his smooth voice, "What is her name?"
Jeff looks over at Dane, "Her name is Mellissa. Here's her picture and a picture of that troll that has her."
He passes over two printouts.
Baron frowns, looking over the picture "I know gangs fairly well, and I've never heard of these red eagles."
Slinger frowns a little, listening in on the situation. "Wait a sec. She said she's not coming home?" he asks. "So is this a kidnapping, or a runaway situation?" the elf asks, furrowing his brow. "And how old is she?" He listens carefully, soaking in all the detail.
«Plot» Baron says, "I consent"
Dane looks over toward Baron and patiently waits while the others see the pictures. Dane stays quiet, nodding over toward what Slinger said, as if to indicate that he had very similar curiosities. His brown eyes glance back over toward the Johnson in expectation.
«Plot» Dane consents.
«Plot» Slinger says, "I'll consent, subject to reasonability :)"
The manager nods, "I don't know much about gangs, That's just what I've over heard her talking about. She's seventeen and I just don't know what to do with her these days."
Baron nods "Are you worth anything Mr. Johnson? Or are you vaulable at your job, clearance, security, a reason someone would use you daughter against you."
Slinger thinks about the situation for a moment. Seventeen is not exactly the age of consent. But it is old enough that she might well make some of her own choices. Slinger has some rules against interfering with people's free will. "So you're pretty sure she went them willingly. That she's not being held against her will. You just think she's being foolish? Just makin' sure I understand," Slinger mentions with an understanding smile.
Dane glances between everyone speaking and then he brings up a royal blue pocket secretary to place it face up on the table. After placing the device down, he offers out a hand for the pictures to obtain them for scanning.
The manager looks back and forth from Slinger to Baron, "I…I am fairly high ranking, but …I mostly deal with inter-office stuff. Making sure everyone has the right office supplies and paper for the printers. I handle office equipment not research or security. And I know my daughter wouldn't willingly stay away from home with those types! They have all these ideas in her head and she's just a confused kid!"
Baron nods "But, since you deal with supplies, you have access to every single office in the building right? You could get someone in anywhere they use paper or office supplies, right?"
Slinger nods and narrows his eyes, then swallows a bite of his McSoy. "All right. I'll go in, make sure she's not being mind-controlled or held against her will. I'll give her the option of extraction. But I, at least, won't be a party to taking her away against her will," he says firmly. "I'll rescue kidnapped people, but I won't kidnap them myself." His eyes move to the Johnson. "Is that acceptable? If not, then I'll walk away and you can find someone willing to do what you want done."
Jeff shakes his head, "No I just keep the inventory and manage the shipments. I don't do deliveries or anything. I just manage the supplies. I hardly ever even go into the warehouse anymore.
Dane drinks a little bit of his lemon water, not adding too much, not just yet.
Baron shakes his head "Teenage girls know little, and the right people could have her brainwashed by now." he looks to Slinger "Can you determine if she is brainwashed or not?"
Jeff looks over at Slinger, "Please. I know she's not in a good place. I think its a warehouse in a bad part of town and I don't know why she'd go there willingly!"
He pleads, "You gotta understand I know my daughter. I might not be able to see her as much as I should but she's better than this!"
Baron has reconnected.
Slinger hesitates. "I could probably tell if she had been abused, drugged, or otherwise wasn't thinking clearly," he agrees. "But if she isn't any of those things, and is just, well, wrong… well, yeah." The elf swallows another bite, washes it down with fizzycoke, then reaches for his cigarettes. "One way or another, we'll talk to her and find out. At the very least, maybe we can get you an answer or two."
Slinger hesitates. "I could probably tell if she had been abused, drugged, or otherwise wasn't thinking clearly," he agrees. "But if she isn't any of those things, and is just, well, wrong… well, yeah." The elf swallows another bite, washes it down with fizzycoke, then reaches for his cigarettes. "One way or another, we'll talk to her and find out. At the very least, maybe we can get you an answer or two." (repose)
Dane caps his lemon water and then rests it on the table top in front of his person. He pulls a few ends of cable out from his coat and hooks one up to the pocket secretary, and then looks over to Jeff, "I can maybe try to talk to her about things, if she really has decided to go with them, she could change her mind if given some reason." Though, it is unlikely. Teenagers and all.
Slinger nods thoughtfully. "So. Let's talk numbers. What're you willing to pay for this particular task? Dealing with teenagers is usually a little extra," Slinger comments. He can only think of the pilot in his car as an example. Frustrating.
The manager looks back and forth, "Please! I got 10,000 I can pay each of you. I just want her home so I can talk to her!" He looks despritly at you.
Baron finishes off one pie, and eats another pie fairly quickly, he listens to the other runners pose questions and comments, but he says nothing further.
Slinger considers the number. "Fifteen," the elf shoots back, working on negotiating it upward. "This is important to you, one way or another." Fifteen sounds reasonable to Slinger, given the hassles he will probably be dealing with.
Dane goes to say something but then just closes his mouth and waits, doing so quietly, looking down at the pics, burning them into his modded memory.
Baron glances over at Slinger as he eats the last pie, and takes a sip of his fizzy coke. He manages not to belch or anything rude, he just apparently eats alot.
«Auto-Judge[]» Kaatje (#8394) rolls 2 for "Normally he's got negotiation 4 but he's desprite and not on top of things.":
2 8
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) has the Attribute Intelligence with the value '6 (10)'.
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Negotiation + Karma Pool: 1 for "Slinger's negotiation.":
2 3 4 5 8 11
The manager caves, "Okay fine, Fifteen but I want her back. Or at least I want to talk to her, for at least thirty minutes in person. If you can't get her to come home at least get her to meet me!"
Baron nods "What about your conditions about making the gang pay for this? That only on the table if she is held against her will?"
Slinger nods firmly. "Yeah. If she's held against her will, we'll see what we can do. Thirty minutes. I think that's reasonable." The elf looks to the others in the group, then back to the father. "Let us know the location to the warehouse, and we'll get right on it." Slinger smiles thoughtfully, already considering plans of attack.
Jeff looks at Slinger, "Thirty minutes, but it has to be in person. I need to see her. Can be a neutral spot, but I need to see her!"
Baron nods "Alright, we are on it then I guess." he looks to the other runners "Conference at my place? Its just a block away."
Dane frowns slightly, "I understand." he says softly, in smooth tones, and he really did. He would not explain though, but empathy there is strong.
Dane nods to Baron and then begins to stand up from wher ehe had been seated.
The manager hands over three credsticks, "These are not activated yet. I have to see her first."
Slinger finishes his meal and his cigarette and dumps his trash, then nods once. Makes sure he has a method of contacting the Johnson, and then he departs with the others. "Not much reason for a conference. My guess is we look at recon, next thing. Thoughts?"
The credsticks have a drop-box connected to them.
Baron grunts, throwing away the wrappers from his food. "Well, I wanted to talk about how we find a gang thats not even big enough to get on the radar."
"Lotsa gangs out there. Some just aren't large enough to have much real turf, so we don't know a lot about them. Still, could put out some feelers, see what we can find out. I can check with Gabe and the Saints, maybe. See what they know. But we know the warehouse where he thinks she is, right?"
The Manager makes his way out giving you a last look, "I don't know exactly which warehouse but I know about where it is. He gives you an industrial area narrowing it down to a few blocks.
Jeff leaves getting into a black Americar and drives off. He gets in the passenger side if you look.
Baron grunts "I can send alot of little drones to search the area, and I got bigger toys for problems. So I guess let me recon the place."
Out of habit, Slinger glances at — and does his best to memorize — the license plate as the car leaves. Then, he's with the others. Slinger nods to Baron. "Phonecalls first, while we head that way. Got transport, or should we take the SUV?"
Baron grins, and shortly thereafter a large Bison pulls up and stops in the parking lot. "All aboard." he calls, climbing into the RV.
Dane almost mentions the Saints but then nods when Slinger does, and he nods toward the manager person, "Thank you for the work opportunity, and I know that you miss your girl. " Very polite, Dane is. He moves outside with them after things are all settled, listening, and then glances over the RV before getting inside.
Slinger grins and climbs inside. "Cool. Got lotsa armor?" he asks, as he finds a spot and belts himself into it. "I'll also do some astral recon when it comes time for that. But first, lemme call Gabe."
The elf takes out his phone and quickly dials a number from memory.
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) has the Contact Gabriel with the following information:
-----> Contact for Slinger (#69) <-----
Contact Name: Gabriel
Level: 2
Type: gang leader
GM Note: The leader of the Saints is in his early thirties or late twenties. He is the most visual leadership behind the Saints since founding them after the rise of the edge. He is charming - intelligent and extremely well connected. Rumor has it he was a shadowrunner before starting up the Saints. He's a human with more cyber than is obvious at the first glance but in combat he is as deadly as they come. He prefers social to combat solutions to a problem and will always try and find the right outcome for his people - not just his ego. %r%rSlinger has a long history of assisting the gang, and while not blooded or flying colors, he is considered to be family.
Baron sits down on the bed inside the RV and shakes his head "No, just standard armor, I plan on upgrading." he jacks into his RC deck, and the RV starts taking off. In the back of the RV, is a Steel Lynx drone, and a Miniblimp.
Slinger nods. "If you need something tougher, the SUV will stop pretty much anything unless it's AV." He waits for the phone call to be answered.
Slinger calls Gabe and gets him on the line, "Aye Omae? What's up?
Dane starts to jack cables into various devices that he has with him, one a pocket secretary, and another split end of a splitter cable into an actual tactical commlink. Dane decides to just hang out standing up, having pretty good balance, and he puts a hand on a supportive spot of the RV while his other hand fiddles with his rambo style headband, and then sockets something into his datajack while it is kept on the side away from the other two.
"Yo, mano. Hey, was curious if you'd heard anything about a gang called the Red Eagles. Sounds kinda Native American, but apparently they got a troll with 'em. Turf seems to be a warehouse down in the Warrens, not sure exactly which one." He gives the general location that he was given. "Ring any bells?"
Baron just drives, heading out to the warrens in his RV, while he lays down in his bed, and eats a snickers bar.
Baron drives to the warehouse, exactly 500 meters from the warehouse, before he pulls over and finds a parking spot.
"Yo, mano. Hey, was curious if you'd heard anything about a gang called the Red Eagles. Sounds kinda Native American, but apparently they got a troll with 'em. Turf seems to be a warehouse down in an area between two Ares warehouses, not sure exactly which one." He gives the general location that he was given. "Ring any bells?"
Gabe thinks for a momment, "No not anything…wait I think they might be a Corp gang. You know corp kids get together and start little gangs. That help?"
Dane is in the process of setting up a commlink frequency, and when he gets one he likes, he starts to wander around, synching everyone up with his.
Gabe adds, "That area isn't really owned by any major gangs that I know of. Ares territory really omae.
"Huh. Fair enough. Ever hear of the Red Eagles?" he wants to know next. "Ask your guys, maybe somebody's heard somethin' on the street," he suggests.
You get to an area with several warehouses. You're not sure which one is the right one but there are about a douzen buildings to check. The area is mostly clear other than a couple poeple walking home from work, and a noodle bar open across the street.
Baron parks his RV, with anyone who came along inside it. The front window rolls down, and two small drones, perhaps 10 centimeters in length, fly out the window and up into the air. Heading along the warehouse line with cameras to see what alls out there.
Gabe answers, "I don't know of em. But from the sound of it they're a bunch of corp kiddies. NOt likely to be armed much, but dont' go in guns blazing as knocking any one of em will get Corp sec on your hump faster than anything.
It is late evening, between shifts so very few people are on the streets. Most shops are closed except for Chen's Noodles, a small chinese noodle bar open 24 hours proclaimed from a small neon sign.
Slinger laughs. "You know me. I'm nothing if not discreet," the elf quips. "All right. Lemme know if you hear anything." He hangs up the call, then leans back. "Don't go anywhere," he suggests to Baron. "I like to be able to find my body when I get back."
He closes his eyes — activates Filtering, then detaches from his body, scanning his surroundings from above before beginning to sweep — cautiously — through buildings.
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "Testing."
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Magic vs TN 2 for "Filtering. TN is background count. Need 2 successes to negate BG count. Duration is 9 * 11 = 99 combat turns.":
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 8 11 = 11 Successes
Slinger: As you go astral you notice the familiar feel of the city's astral background and easilly shrug it off as you step out into the astral. You can sense the life force of several people around in the buildings around you. Concrete walls becoming transluecent. The closest warehouse has some warded areas but you also see two metahumans out in the front of the place. Looks like the place is guarded and it was one of the better looking buildings.
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Centering + 3 (centering focus) vs TN 2 for "Centering against background count for astral perception.":
1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 5 = 6 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence vs TN 4 for "Astral perception/assensing.":
1 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 8 10 = 7 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Aura Reading vs TN 4 for "Complementary.":
2 3 3 5 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Baron (#3002) rolls Intelligence for "Checking Sensor Readouts":
1 1 2 4 4 5 5 5
Slinger and Baron both are scanning around the first three warehouses. ON the astral Slinger you dont' see anyone that looks, well young. A few vagrants sleeping in the alleys, some bored guards in two of the warehouses. Until Slinger you notice four people in the back of one warehouse on the far end of the block. One of them is magically active, casting a spell. Baron your bumblebees dont' catch anythign at first either but finally you see two people walking along the street who don't quite look like workers.
Dane pulls his goggles out from his deerhide leather jacket pocket and dons them and then also watches the scenery outside the RV, window watching.
` Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I got two that look out of place, hang on."
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337) rolls Intelligence for "Perception!":
3 4 4 5 9 11
Baron links his RC deck into his trid display, showing anyone else what he sees with his drone cameras
GM whisper "In the noodle bar you see long blond hair and recall that the girl was blond." to Dane.
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Centering + 3 (centering focus) vs TN 2 for "Centering against BG count.":
1 2 3 3 5 5 9 20 22 = 8 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence vs TN 4 for "Assensing.":
1 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 8 = 5 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Aura Reading vs TN 4:
2 5 7 11 = 3 Successes
One warehouse at the far end… Slinger slips inside the walls of it, careful of any wards. If there are wards there, then he can deal with them. His own aura appears to be that of a mundane, and to make it even less likely he'll be noticed, he is using any cover he can to mask his entrance.
A spell is being cast, and Slinger immediately stares at it, directing his attention to trying to identify it — along with whatever he can find out about the caster.
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337)'s Spiffy Goggles (#7396) has the Voucher Item 1 Goggles with the following information (only to Kaatje):
----------—[ Shadowrun Denver ]-
=========================> Item 1 on Spiffy Goggles <==========================
Item Name: Goggles
Item Type: ITEM
Quantity: 1
Fractional OK: No
Clonable: No
Players Can Link: No
Created For: Kassandra (#9777)
Created By: Numb (#4836)
IC Location: DANE
-----> GM Notes for Item <-----—
Nov 6 2008 Chargen Note: High-Powered Goggles with the following options:
Low Light, Thermographic, Vision Mag 3, Microscopic Vision
Nov 6 2008 Purchased 1 at chargen for 40400 in resources. Approved by Numb
(#4836).
Dane pages: Does it match the picts? I also have a Mnemonic Enhancer if that helps any.
GM paged Dane with 'Definatly could be, You are seeing the back of her head, and there is a booth blocking much of her, but it is a girl and you think she's young. She's with someone bigger but there is a wall blocking most of them.'.
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "Rigger person, I know our comrade cannot hear, but I think I notice someone in the noodle shop right now, who might match the lady."
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "I think I'm gonna just walk in there and take a peek."
Slinger: You see an aura that looks like a young caster, someone who isnt' expiranced casting spells, as for the spell it is an illusion spell, looks like confusion or entertainment. He isn't dual natured otherwise, just casting a spell.
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Roger, I'll send a drone to watch you."
Slinger eyes the young caster, then glances around the interior. Any warded areas that might be blocking his view? And what was the target? Slinger is paying some attention to the others in the room from his hiding place.
The back of the RV is a ramp, and it lowers and a blimp takes off, floating out of the vehicle, then rising into the air to a height of 800 meters. Its got a giant Fizzy Coke Logo on the side, and keeps changing, it looks like a floating advertisement.
Baron; The two you are tracking are heading towards the noodle bar. Definatly late teens early twenties an elf and human, talking to one another, one seems to have a bulge under his jacket, could be a gun.
Dane just slips out of the RV as he is, heading over to the noodle shop, as if he is just gonna get some noodles. He does things like this sometimes, you know, noodle eatin. What with being a Japanese culture sympathizer. He makes sure to have tucked his goggles away, just cause they look plain strange, and on his trek over, he makes sure to watch out for any savages.
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Got a possible gun on two approaching the noodle shop"
Commlink-Coffee> Dane subvocalizes (not using the transducer right now, cause he does not want the cable brain thing going on), "Thank you."
Dane: You head into the shop with a ring of a bell. It's a chinese place and the smell is pretty good with steamers and pots of hot noodles cooking slowly in the back. Looks like they make their own here. With a closer look the girl is with a troll and both look like a match for the two you're looking for. From behind the counter a cantoneese elf smiles and bows his head, "Hello sir, may I take your order?"
Dane realizes his error in believing that the place might actually be Japanese of some sort, oops! He nods to the Cantonese elven person, and then smiles thinly, "Just looking for a warm meal, anything not too spicy, please." he suggests and fishes for some scrip in his pockets with which to pay.
Slinger heads back to his body in the RV… and finds nobody else around. « Anybody around? » the elf asks, scowling. He isn't even fully in his armor, which makes things difficult. « Where'd you guys go? »
Baron grunts from his spot in the bed "I'm here, watch the trid."
The Trid in the RV shows three pictures, one from each drone outside. One watching the warehouses, one watching the streets, and one focused on the noddle shop.
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Somethin' goin' down?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Possible sighting of our girl in the noddle shop, some guys with guns heading that way"
Slinger grunts, and then grabs his armor, which he grabbed with the rest of his equipment before we left the McHughs from his own vehicle.
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Guys with guns? Frag… how much time I got?"
The elf smiles, "I know just the thing! Tofu Seasame!" He pulls the lid off of one of the pots, "2 nuyen a cup!"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Just packing, not using"
Commlink-Coffee> Dane clears his throat softly, "Aye, just walkin in here, checking out the place. Anyway, might not even need all that."
Dane is being vague, just in case someone has amped hearing, he doesn't want anyone thinking he's doing anything other than some kinda routine bluetooth style phone call.
Dane nods to the elf and then fishes out 3 nuyen even and puts them over for the serving elf, "I would love some of that, thanks very much. Looks good."
The elf smiles and serves up a bowl on a tray adding a cup for drink. "My mother's own special recipe!"
« Gotcha. Putting on my armor, powering up, just in case. There a window on that shop? » Slinger wonders. Once he's finished with that, he starts to activate spells, one after another, into his foci.
Baron lays in his bed, and reaches for the fridge next to it to grab a fizzy coke, then he reaches for another drawer and grabs a twinkie, laying back, and watching images in his head as he eats the tasty snacks.
It is definitally the troll and the girl. They are chatting in a booth over a couple cups of noodles and a salad.
Dane nods just a little bit to the elven person, "From the smell, I can already tell that she must have been a fine cook." he suggests while lending vague attention toward those he is actually trailing. He moves over to a booth somewhere near the troll and girl and takes a seat as if he were just a guy, in here, lookin to sit down… somewhere. And eat.
One of the small bee drones lands across the street, the camera focusing on the front of the noodle shop to try to look inside.
The elf and human coming up the street go into the bar and order, followed by a couple of workers. The place is doing fairly good business, with seven or eight people eating. While you are waiting you see a cyclist come in, pick up an order behind the counter and head out, apparently they deliver.
The shop has a large window and from the bee's vantage you can get a decent shot inside and see all the partrons eating.
Once all those things are done, Slinger slips out of the back of the RV, floating above the ground at a relatively rapid pace. The elf mage is approaching the noodle shop, his aura masked to look like that of a mundane, and basically invisible to most forms of sensors. Baron might be able to detect him through radar, potentially. Once there, he'll look into a window, making sure he has full line of sight on anyone present within.
Dane is inside the shop, having found himself a seat nearby the targets and is doing the whole listening in thing while he seemingly is just eatin.
Slinger is there. Dane is in the shop and Baron's got a good view and his other bee is looking out ofn the street. The human and elf join the troll and girl and the four chat amoungst themselves. Anyone want to make listening rolls to hear?
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337) rolls Intelligence for "Listening! Inside Shop, No Hearing Mods Avail.":
2 3 3 5 5 11
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence + 5 (ssf) for "Hearing amp gives -2 TN/+2 to roll":
1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 7
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence + 5 (ssf) for "Hearing amp gives -2 TN/+2 to roll, KP 3/38.":
1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 9 10
«Plot» Slinger says, "Stand there."
Both Dane and Slinger can hear them talking. Lugh the troll is talking to Melissa about her father asking her if she's gonna stay away forever. He seems to be pushing her to go home and talk to him again, see if he'll understand and she seems to be the holdout. THe conversation changes as the other two join them to what has been hapening on a popular Ares vidshow, Runner's Blue.
Dane seems intent to stay patient and listen to the two, trying to empathize with all of the feelings that the two have about the situation, waiting for the reasons why Melissa wants to hold out, if she even says. Patience. It is a big virtue of Dane's, and he has a ton of it, really.
Slinger scowls. Yeah, that definitely doesn't sound like somebody being kept against her will. Slinger looks through the window, trying to get a good look at Melissa's aura, to see if there are any signs there of spells active on her, or any signs of abuse or torture or drugs.
Baron simply eats in his RV and watches the pictures from his drones. He finishes off the twinky fairly fast, then sips on his fizzy coke.
Dane also makes a note on his poc sec to catch Runner's Blue on later.
Most of the conversation is basic teen talk. From the aura you can see a little pollution, a datajack, perhaps some pot but nothing major. If you do nothing else they finish and get up to head out all together.
Commlink-Coffee> Dane subvocalizes, "Suggestions? Doesn't seem so bad. Probably, could just talk to her, let her know he really cares. Seems the troll boy wants her to go ahead and do what we're being paid to bring her back to do."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Your call, I got my sniper in the air if trouble breaks out."
Dane finishes up the last of his noodles while having eaten them in a rather adept Japanese style chopstick format. He tosses the noodle cup into the trash bin and then tucks his pocsec away and his hands into his jacket and then proceeds to move on out of the shop after the others, but not very close, you know, decent shadowing distance.
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "Probably will out in the street, vs trying anything inside the business."
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "You're point. I can zot people nice and non-lethally if things come to that. Worst case, I'll stunball all of you, including you, Dane, and evac you out of there. With apologies in advance for the headache." The elf starts to lift upward into the air, making sure he, himself, is out of the radius of any spell he has to lob.
"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "If someone pulls out a gun, am I allowed to shoot them or not. I can also be theatrical if you want a bullet to hit the ground near them to prove our point."
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "That's fine."
The four head out towards the back of the warehouses, toward the one with the spellcaster before. They are moving at a leisurly pace down the sidewalk. Four together with a troll, they are fairly at ease and not paying attention.
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "I like the stunball idea."
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "I'd rather go nonlethal if we can."
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "I'd rather talk our way out of this if we can, actually."
Dane goes ahead and jogs up to catch up with them and lets them know that he is there by saying, "Hey guys." but he keeps his hands out of his pockets and free of any obstructions, where they can be easily seen unarmed.
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Then I'll hold in reserve, just hollar if you need me to put a bullet somewhere"
Slinger takes advantage of his speed to stay right above the group — and keeps his hearing attuned to what's being said below him. The ear mods were worth every penny, even if they aren't the best for his mojo.
The elf speaks first, "Whatchue want omae? The human reaching under his coat holding something and Melissa moving behind Lugh.
Baron sends his little bee drone to hover in the air above the group, about 100 meters up, camera focused in as they walk. His sniper blimp also gets a bead on the troll, but keeps the gun hidden, looking just like a advertising blimp.
Dane is a fairly rugged mountain man style type guy with his face all clean shaven, but with jeans and tee shirt, and a deerhide leather jacket with some sexy fringe. He smiles slightly, though makes note of the movements that aided precaution, not blaming them for it. He stays calm and collected, and then says in his smooth and quiet tones, "I have a message for a lady Melissa whose father really wants to speak to his daughter. Ma'am…" he says and then turns toward Lugh, because Melissa is behind him. He tilts slightly to try to see her but not much, "I come in peace, just, requesting your audience with him, if you please. He really misses you, and I can tell he cares."
Lugh nods holding up a hand to the others, as behind him Melissa speaks out, "I don't want to talk to him. He won't listen!" Lugh looks back, "Mabey we should hear what he has to say 'lissa?"
Slinger hovers in the air, eyeing the person reaching for his gun. No, that one is going to be the first target. If he pulls whatever that is out of his coat, then he's getting zotted. No two ways about it.
Dane nods slightly about what Lugh says, "He's right, no harm in just talking to him, is there, ma'am?" Dane keeps very polite and sincere.
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337) rolls Etiquette:
2 2 3 4
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337) rolls Etiquette for "(KP1)":
1 3 3 5
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337) rolls Etiquette for "(KP3)":
3 4 9 10
After talking for a few minutes Melissa agrees, "I'll talk to him but I'm not just gonna go back. …He'll just tell security not to let me leave the compound."
Dane speaks with the group and then bows his head to her slightly, "Ma'am, I very much appreciate your cooperation. He did say that he would be willing to meet you somewhere neutral." He smiles faintly to them all but then also adds with grave sincerety. "I apologize for imposing on all of you, but family really is important, you never know when they might be gone."
After dropping that obscure tidbit, probably result of something concerning his past, Dane adds, "Please, call me Joseph. And, where would be a great place that you would all consider as neutral territory where he can see you?"
Baron gets up and walks over to his fridge, reaching in and grabbing a nukitmeal from the freezer, and popping it in his microwave. He continues watching the images from his drones as he cooks more food.
She gives you the adress of a park and a time a few blocks from here. Staying close to Lugh.
Dane shows his hands to them and then moves them slowly and says, "Gonna write that down." but pulls a pocket secretary just as gradually, and then he not only commits it to electronic memory, but also his enhanced one.
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Be prepared to defend the father, this can't be this easy."
Slinger is listening in. « Tell her you will have security in place to make sure nobody does anything against anybody's will. I, personally, will make sure of that. Thirty minutes. That's all that's needed. Make sure she agrees to that. »
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Also… what're the odds that Dad's gonna send the cops?"
The four stay on guard while the arrangements are made lugh asking, "What time? Do you have contact with him, I don't think 'lissa's gonna call."
Commlink-Coffee> Dane subvocalizes, "Well, we were only hired to get her to meet him, which was have basically done. What they do to him is really their biz. And what cops are gonna come out here?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Dont tell the father we have the girl, tell her we need to talk to him"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "tell him we need to talk to him"
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "This ain't the Warrens. We're pretty close to Ares turf."
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "That's not a bad idea. Tell him to meet us… and not that we have the girl."
Dane listens and then nods to them all, having to manage talking comm and the actual discussion at the same time, but he manages quite well, even. "Actually, I can get contact info for him, though we can just pass along the info that he should meet her there. Also, because some of us feel freedom is an important aspect of these things, I can make sure to have security measures in place for the protection of everyone. Hold on just a sec." Dane actually decides to switch over to texting Slinger, since talking and comming was still difficult even if manageable, » "What was his contact info? The troll man would like to call him. Maybe it can help things. I think so." «
Slinger glances at his pocket secretary — fun fact about invisibility: you can see yourself, even if nobody else can — and relays the information via a text message to Dane, using comm without the transducer. Datajacks are amazing things.
Lugh takes the info and nods, "I don't think he wants to talk to me, omae."
Dane gets the info from Slinger on the pocket secretary, nodding and then passes along the contact information to Lugh, "Here it is, his number is <!####!>. And, I think it would be more beneficial if the time was decided by more direct parties, as in, either you and her father, or… to make negotiations more fair, a time most convenient for her?"
Baron pulls his nuketmeal out of the microwave, and waddles over to the table, sitting down and eating, a datacable trailing to his RC deck still on the bed.
Dane nods slightly to Lugh and then says softly, "Ah, well, here then, I will go ahead and call, if you want, just a sec." and he starts dialing, "Probably, as soon as possible is best, so all this stress can be nuked. And, maybe, if I can get him talked into talking to you, would you like to?" Dane asks Lugh, "I mean, maybe he can see that you're not such a bad guy?"
Dane starts ringing up the phone call, in the meantime while listening to them.
Lugh shakes his head, "I tried to talk to him once, and he called security before I could say two words." The phone rings and is picked up quickly, "Have you gotten her?"
Dane frowns sympathetically about what Lugh says but then nods, "Ok." and then turns full attention to the phone conversation, "I am standing with her right now. Peacefully. I remember you said that you were willing to meet with her in a neutral location. I have one." Dane presses a button and sends the navigational data for the park suggested. "She has agreed to meet and talk but we are, of course, not doing this by force. I suggest you hurry yourself, sir, so that you might not miss this chance."
He agrees to meet that very night. As you hang up two more of the 'gang' come up to see what is going on.
Slinger watches the people in question carefully. Looking, of course, for anyone who might be Awakened, and thus able to spot him. OF course, he should be pretty hard to take out, but it might freak somebody out.
Dane turns to glance over at the other two and up nods slightly in their direction before turning back to Melissa and Lugh, "He is going to be there, tonight." and Dane specifies any timeframe that he was maybe given. "Shall we all go ahead and head that way? Enroute, could you tell me a little bit about this issue? Maybe, I can help mediate, or if you rather, I can stand aside?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I'm sure the dad is going to call the cops, I'd rather not be in the middle of this meeting."
Melissa nods, "Just stay back please." She looks up at Lugh, "Will you come with me?" He looks down and nods, "We'll be there in an hour." With that the six ganger teens head towards their warehouse.
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "That's fine. I half expect him to, but I am gonna just risk it and go with them if they want me to."
Dane nods a little bit at the lady's request, and then he stands back and lets them progress. "Take care." he tells them before letting out a sigh and then heading to walk back around the noodle shop for the RV.
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Yeah. We need to be on the lookout for anybody trying anything. I hope I don't have to zot any cops. I hate it when that happens."
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "Or at least be there in the hour, anyways. It doesn't seem like they really want me with them. I don't blame em. I'm some strange guy. Anyway… shall we go ahead and get prepped?"
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "I very much dislike fighting cops."
Baron sits in the back of his RV, watching trid feeds. He recalls the two small bee drones, but leaves the blimp up in the air, it moves as fast as the RV anyhow.
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "I'm gonna find a spot, grab a cancer stick, and watch."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I'll drive you all near the park, then use my drones to keep an eye out for cops"
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "Sounds good, gonna grab a ride to the park, and then just hang out until the parties arrive."
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "A ride with our rigger fellow, I mean. What should I call you?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Call me Baron"
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "good to meet you officially. Call me Joseph."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "A pleasure, help yourself to the fridge while we ride, I keep plenty for guests."
Anyway you are able to get in position It is a park, about a block large a few trees but mostly open ground with a fountain in the middle. The father comes in a different car a grey ares-make sedan. So what are you doing to scope the place?
Baron finds a spot to park is RV, the Blimp drone flying above as they drove. Once they hit the park, the advertising blimp hovers over the center of the park at about 700 meters up in the air. Broadcasting adds for Fizzy Coke. Two small drones once more fly from the windows of the RV, and find perches in trees around the park so they dont have to hover, instead, thier cameras rotate around, watching the park and the area around it.
Dane grabs some twinkies from the RV on the ride over and thanks Baron, and then actually just finds himself a spot on a park bench somewhere that is easily seen, not really going for the stealth stuff, even though he is good at it sometimes. He just waits, somewhere where both parties can spot him and if they need him, call upon him for assistance in mediation, otherwise, he lets it all unfold like he hopes it will.
While eating twinkies.
«Auto-Judge[]» Baron (#3002) rolls Intelligence for "Checking sensor feeds":
1 2 3 4 4 5 7 10
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337) rolls Intelligence for "Perception!":
3 4 5 5 5 10
Slinger finds a spot where he can be hidden, at least for now, and flips up the visor to his helmet. He lights a cigarette, staying out of sight while he indulges his addiction, and watches. Once it's finished, he closes the visor and resumes doing flyovers, though he stays in whatever trees there are, primarily, to hide himself from whomever might be looking. He flips his attention back and forth between the astral and physical realms.
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence for "Physical perception.":
1 1 1 2 2 2 4 9 10 15
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Centering + 3 (centering focus) vs TN 2 for "Centering against any penalties.":
1 1 2 3 4 5 5 7 10 = 7 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence vs TN 4 for "Astral perception.":
2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 5 11 = 2 Successes
You whisper "As suspected there are a couple Knight Errant Cars on standbye Though you also notice a Lonestar drone patrolling the area and seeming to take an extra sweep over the KE cars." to Baron.
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "WE got KE cars nearby, and a LS drone in the air"
You whisper "You notice the drone and that the park is displaying a "This Area Patroled by LoneStar." Emblem." to Dane.
You whisper "On astral you notice the signature of a mage, you think it was the same one you saw casting before. On physical after a minute you see Melissa and Lugh coming up from a car parked ont he opposite end of the park, someone left in the car. And you see a Lonestar vehicle pulling up keeping out of sight of the KE cars." to Slinger.
After hearing that choice info about LS and KE, Dane gets one of his cables out of his pocket and slips it into his datajack, since no one is RIGHT up close to him for now, he can jack a cable in discreetly without flashing his datajack very much, and then resettle his headband back down, sorta skewed.
Earlier, he had not wanted to seem so strange with the dangling cables going on but now that he was semi established with already having met the gangers, he goes ahead and does this. Cables dangling, he makes a call to someone.
From afar, Dane calls a guy named Roger Smith, Lonestar Detective, he's Level 2.
Baron gets a bit nervous, and what does the fat man do….he grabs a candy bar and a fizzy coke. He starts eating while watching the camera feeds.
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "Gonna call Roger about it, and see."
From afar, Dane is gonna inquire, to see if he knows if anyone has been sent out to the area for any reason. or, if things are normal. Dane'll pay him a grand for the trouble.
Dane: You get him on the line. "Hello? This is Smith."
Dane apparently hangs out here on the park bench while jacked into pocsec.
Dane pages: Meanwhile, electronically and silently transducing, "Hey, Roger, got something going on, and just wondering if there had been any calls for anyone to be sent over to <xparkx>. Curious, got money for the trouble."
"Got an astral mage. One of the guys from the warehouse. Lonestar vehicle pulling up over yonder, staying out of sight of the KE vehicles. I'm wondering who called whom," the elf mutters, staying low. No more smokes for him — right now, he has to keep a lookout. He carefully keeps an eye on the troll and Melissa. « Got Lugh and Melissa in sight. Any sign of Dad? »
You paged Dane with 'He checks and answers, "Yeah the star has sent out a couple cars to check out why a some Errant boys are watching their turf. Jurisdiction is something not taken lightly and if any arrests are to be made on the star's turf they wanna make damn well sure it is the Star doing it.'.
Dane pages: Huh, alright, I really appreciate the info. —Dane. *will +spend 1k, which Dane will hand over to him in the future somewhere stealthy*
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337) spends 1000 nuyen for "Cause Roger Smith is just awesome. <3 Dane.".
Jeff is waiting by the fountain as Melissa and Lugh come up.
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "Huh, my contact says that the star has sent out some cars to check why the KE boys are watching their turf. Apparently, they wanna make sure that if any arrests are being made, that it is Lonestar doing it… seems to be why there's so much activity. My guess is that it is not intentionally for -our- situation, but who knows what this altercation might start, it very well could draw attention."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Our J is an ares boy, Ares is KE, the KE is here for this, the Star is here because of the KE"
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "That sounds about right."
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "I don't know any KE boys, do you guys?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Nope"
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Nope. Got a Lone Star contact, but he won't know more than your guy, I'm sure."
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "Perhaps, I could go over there and keep them preoccupied, or give them some kind of false lead, but that generally ends bad. Maybe a bribe? Any other ideas?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Stay out of it, let it play out. Like you said earlier, we have done our part of the job."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Unless J plans on not paying us and turning us over to KE for a reward, well then, we might have to take steps"
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Yeah. Let it play out, and intervene if we have to."
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "Ok, will do."
Baron is parked a mile away from the park now, cause he aint going to sit that close to the cops. His deck has enough range to cover it, he can pick up his drones later.
Dane hangs out at his bench and opens up some more of Baron's twinkies that he had snagged from the RV fridge earlier. Hey, the guy offered! :P
Slinger is still hanging out in a tree. Trees are good, because they are alive and provide some degree of astral cover. The elf is watching, warily, waiting for the two groups to get together. « Where the hell is the J? »
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "He is at the fountain, with the troll and girl"
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "That's him? Frag. Sorry. Was too busy seeing the cars. Can anybody hear them?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I can send a drone in"
The meeting goes on for a few minutes with the father pleading with the daughter, pointing at the "dangerous trog" and getting shouted back at by Melissa while lugh tries to keep back and look non-threatenting. As things go on a couple Star cops walk leisurely down the the SE path toward the fountain (8 paths, cardinal directions, father came from west, kids from east. KE is to the NW. Star SE and another car moving in from behind the KE cars.
«Auto-Judge[]» Baron (#3002) rolls Intelligence for "Using focused microphones on drones.":
2 2 2 2 2 2 5 5
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence + 5 (ssf) for "Hearing perception check to listen in, +2 bonus from Hearing Amp.":
1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 7 9 11
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337) rolls Intelligence for "Can Dane hear from the Bench?":
1 3 3 5 5 8
It was enough for all of you. The father is being somewhat well more than somewhat racist, Melissa isn't backing down. One of the star cops stops by Dane and nods, "Hey buddy, probably a good time for you to take a walk." In a tone that is more than a suggestion.
Slinger listens, trying to get a feel for the conversation — and more to the point, who's in the right, who's in the wrong, here. Is Melissa well within her rights? Who is being irrational? From the sound of it, the father is the one being less than reasonable.
Already, it's pretty clear to Slinger that he's not going to get paid for this job. He sets his lips into a thin line.
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence for "Visual perception.":
2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 8 11
«Auto-Judge[]» Baron (#3002) rolls Intelligence for "What do my drones see?":
1 1 2 3 4 4 5 5
The father is more irrational but he does have his daughter's wellfare in mind and is ultimately right about her getting a good education even if his reasons are wrong. As for the law you're not sure (without a legal or knowledge law roll)
Dane looks up toward the Lonestar cop and then raises an eyebrow, "Oh? Why's that?" but not in a disrespectful way, actually getting up, putting all the twinkie wrappers into his leather jacket.
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence for "Defaulting.":
1 1 1 1 3 4 4 5 5 8
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337) rolls Police Tactics:
1 3 4 9 19
«Auto-Judge[]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence for "Defaulting. KP 4/38":
1 1 3 3 5 5 5 7 9 10
"Kinda thing there aint nothing to see here. Please sir, just move along" The cop explains, somewhat politely but forcefully as he heads back to catch up with his partner. The first LS cop calling out to calm the two parties down, "What's going on here?"
The father has an earwigg and a small datapad in his hand probably to signal and hear from the KE cops
Oh, crap. This is going to get nasty. Slinger glances around in the astral, checking for any police presence in the magical realm. If he has to start zotting cops, things are going to get very interesting, very quickly. And he'll have to carefully erase his signatures.
Baron is about through his fifth candybar now, and his third fizzy coke, he eats when he is nervous, and this many cops makes him nervous. Thankfully, he lives in the RV, and is compulsive enough to throw the wrappers and bottles in a trashcan instead of littering all over his floor.
Dane gets himself situated and then moves to follow the officer fellow, "Understdood. I used to be in law enforcement once upon a time. Hey, I have an idea of what is going on here. Would you like me to try to talk to them?" Yes, Dane. He is crazy. In that strange way that guys who lived out away from people too long get, mmhmm.
Dand and SLinger know that while the father probably doesn't have anything that would stand up in a real court he has more than enough that he could trump up for an arrest and possable conviction with the right wheels greased for the troll. However the Star beign there puts a monkeywrench in things as they are not going to let a KE arrest go down on their turf. So the father may have to do some convincing to get them to arrest the troll, or have KE grab him once he leaves the park.
Slinger watches carefully and listens, keeping an eye on the cops, and trying to watch the astral as well, looking for some clue of whether there might be a police magical presence. If there isn't, he has a chance of pulling this off. If there is… things might get very messy very quickly.
The LS cop turns to Dane again and raises one hand, the other near his belt, "Please sir, just move along. We got a public disturbance and can handle it outselves. Don't get in our way."
Slinger you don't see any astral prescence for cops. It is a semi-public park and thus nothing worth guarding with magic.
Dane raises his hands a little bit, nodding, and then he gives one last soulful glance toward Lugh and Melissa, and then finally the father, and he shakes his head as if pitying the man for his irrational and bigotted ways. Then, he just turns away and tucks his hands into his pockets, it was too late to actually interfere. Though, he does seem to be travelling in a direction that would lead away toward the KE side. Hmm hmm.
OK Cop Rundown. There are two cars of KE that you know of off the NW corner of the park parked jsut behind a building to keep out of sight. ONe LS car moving in behind them. ONe LS drone in the air. And One LS car parked in the SE corner with its two cops out and walking toward the father and daughter.
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "If things go bad, I can take out the cop cars if you like, spare lives, put people on foot."
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Deal with the airborne drone if things go bad. We've got two KE cars… the rest of this is Lone Star."
The LS cops have taken up sinchecks for the father Lugh and Melissa going through basic procedure to check everyone is who they say they are. In the NW the two KE cars are being harrased about Jurisdiction by a couple of Lonestar officers. All the KE cops are still in car.
Slinger does his best to listen in. This is going to potentially get… nasty. The elf is monitoring the situation, but isn't acting yet. Right now, his primary goal is to actually protect Lugh and Melissa. Underhanded tactics aren't much fun, and already Slinger has an issue with the father.
Dane goes ahead and finds himself somewhere, like a building or a tree or something against which to stand in the shadows, and just kinda disappear in that fashion, though not reallly, just trying for social invisibility, and to stay well enough away from things so as not to be too disturbing to them. For now, he rings in Roger Smith, again… course, Dane always makes up for bothering him, somehow.
The LS cops seem to be trying to push Melissa to go with her father and Lugh to go on his way not convinced that he should be arrested. (Also probably wanting to irk the father a little for calling KE to their turf.) Lugh is hesitent but actually encourages Melissa to go with her father "for the best."
«Auto-Judge[]» Baron (#3002) rolls Intelligence for "Uh oh!":
1 1 3 3 4 5 8 11
GM whisper "You check your credit transaction logs and notice that the credstick the father gave you is active with the promised amount. He paid." to Baron.
Baron fiddles around inside his RV, and pulls out a pocsec, checking the credstick, and expecting nothing to be on it, to his surprise, its active.
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I'll be damned, pops paid us."
From afar, Dane tells Roger he's sorry for bugging him (as it looks like things are settled down as far as the Lugh not getting arrested —well, at least by LS for now.)
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Huh. Interesting."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Now, if only someone could tell the girl to go with daddy, and run away later after pretending its all good"
«Auto-Judge[]» Dane (#337) spends 200 nuyen for "Sorry for bothering/calling you Roger! Things are cool!".
It takes a while but the girl finally goes with her father and Lugh goes on his way.
Dane ends the call after a short moment of miscomm clarification, and then he whistles over toward Lugh, to get his attention. "Hey." Luckily, Dane had stopped in between the scene and the KE side of things over there.
All things considered, nobody got forced into anything. Slinger watches the situation, letting out a slow sigh of relief. He didn't relish the thought of having to go up against cops. The thing about cops is, you fight one, you fight them all, and that makes things tricky.
« Doesn't look like anybody's being forced. »
Lugh comes up, "That could have gone..better. I was afraid he'd call the cops on us."
He comes up to Dane that is.
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "Well now what, I'm assuming KE has raided the warehouse now too"
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Your drones woulda noticed that, right?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I didnt leave any at the warehouse"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I can send one back to look though"
«Auto-Judge[]» Baron (#3002) rolls Intelligence for "Checking":
1 2 3 4 4 4 5 5
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Yeah, but it's nearby, and your drones oughtta be able to see. Plus… we — and Dad — still don't know which warehouse."
Dane nods slightly, "It could have. Looks like the star are talking to the KE cop cars over there. Not sure if they are still intent on bagging you, but I just wanted to let you know, you're a good man, Lugh. Maybe, you should stick around and not walk off into KE jurisdiction just yet until they move out of here? I dunno."
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I dont see any KE activity in the area besides what we already know, so I guess its all clear. Call me paranoid I guess."
The troll nods, "We'll take our time getting home then." He looks back and nods, "thanks."
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "Oughtta advise him to steer clear of that warehouse."
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "It seems to be their home. You think that the KE would hit it up after shadowing them there, or do you think they know where it is?"
Commlink-Baron> Baron says, "I know I'd follow him to find it if I wanted to safe face after not getting to catch him with the girl."
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "As he said, have him take a nice circuitous route home. I'll do overwatch, make sure he gets home safe, and watch for any tails, astral or otherwise."
Dane nods slightly, "You're welcome. Wish there was more that could be done for this… And, I got some word advising precaution while heading home, nice big circitous route there, like you suggested. And, we can try to make sure that we get you home safe, too, if you want the help of me and my team?"
Lugh shrugs, "We can't pay you. But yeah we're gonna take a long way back. And probably have to move."
The car Lugh came in pulls up the elf is in the driver seat and the mage kid is lying down, presumably astral in the back.
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "They said they can't pay, which I don't mind, but I don't know if I have a way to go follow them without my car. Unless, you can do extra magic things?"
Commlink-Slinger> Slinger says, "I can shadow 'em from above."
Commlink-Coffee> Dane says, "Aright, I'll leave it in your hands then."
Baron starts his RV up, and heads back to the park to pick up his drones, and Dane. Collecting all his toys before he decides to call it a night.
Dane nods some, "I don't think we're worried about being paid here. And, yeah, I know it sounds weird, but some of us are… oddly charitous." smiling faintly, he gives Lugh a brief pat on his big huge arm, "Anyway, my number is 5065 if you need something. A comrade will see you home safely."
Dane then waves and heads off to the RV when it comes around, getting picked up.
Slinger will greet the troll once it's safe to do so, then carefully stays astral and tails the vehicle — at least as best he can — watchings its progress while staying as well-hidden as he can. He makes sure he gets the contact information for the troll, so he can contact him with any developments or warnings.
Baron waits and ferrys everyone back to thier car, even picking up Slinger after he floats following the car, if the elven mage wants a ride. He returns to McHughs, orders another meal to go, and then heads off to park for the night.
Lugh gets into the car and the kids drive off. Heading towards the south rather than Eash whence they came
Slinger'll take the ride. Good way to have his meat-body in motion, even if he has to project.
After the RV ride, Dane picks up his LS ford americar that has no actual LS logos on it, when they are back at McHughs, and then he lets out a sigh once inside and all alone again. Today went very well, for the shadows.
After following the kids a while. they first go to a friend's place and get into an old van before heading back to the warehouses. When they get there there is a quick succession of boxes being moved into the van and them heading out to find a new location as a KE patrol begins checking the closed warehouses for signs of illicit life.
Once the youths are clear, Slinger will make sure to drop in, establish a little bit of rapport and maybe even help them load things with a levitate spell. Once done, though, he heads back to the RV — and from there back to his vehicle, checking the credstick to make sure it's active. Money is good.
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