Toymaker

GM: Kensai Players: Ginny, Victor, Kensai, Gaul Synopsis: The Runners are hired to retrieve a man called 'the toymaker' - the target of an extraction who was surprise-extracted before his planned extraction could take place. Through decking, deception, derring-do and some hot driving, they peel away the onion of complexity and achieve their objective. Date: Feb 14, 2083 Hagakure-tei (Japanese for 'The Restaurant Hidden in the Leaves') is a quiet, calming place in Little Chiba. The traditional look is enhanced by imitation rice-paper-style walls, and real tatami mats on a polished synth-wood floor. The restaurant is in the shape of a wide rectangle, with the entrance in the center of one wider wall, with the kitchens opposite. There is a counter by the entrance, at which stands one of the waiting staff to check for table availability, and to check reservations. Most of the tables are of the taller, wooden western variety with matching chairs, in some cases separated by rice-paper screens. There is a single long table, low in the japanese tradition, with seating provided by low roll-pillows. The delicate scent of incenses, mostly jasmine and sandlewood, hangs pleasantly in the air, and quiet music ranging from the truly ancient Gagaku style, to the more recognisable sounds of the koto (thirteen string zither), shamisen (three string guitar) and shakuhachi flute, enhances the atmosphere of the place. The waiters and waitresses are all young, polite Japanese in traditional dress, and ordering in anything but fluent Japanese proves to be difficult. The call comes, of all times, around lunch time - your fixer-of-choice calls you up, telling you about a job - the johnson is as legit as johnsons get, unlikely to be a backstab, money's good, etc - then he passes on the information. It is a formal late lunch-time invitation to dine at the Tsunami Gardens, with instructions to go to the Lotus Room at exactly 2 pm mountain time. The directions are easy enough to follow, and the smiling, obsequious hostess leads you to the appointed room. Inside, a wizened old man in an exquisite suit sits on a tatami mat at the head of a long, low table - behind him in the corner, watchful, is a mountain of a human, with the kind of bulk only seen in sumo wrestlers. He, too, is in a suit, and he stands with arms folded. Kensai is already there, at the table, his briefcase beside him. Victor arrives early, perhaps subverting anyone's expectations. He strolls through the place behind the hostess and, as he approaches the private dining room, some of his luminous accoutrement hint at his presence from the other side of the screen. When the door slides open he looks around curiously, only to spot Kensai. He grins and points in that familiar way some people have as he scoots into the room and slides smoothly down to a seat. "Konnichiwa," he says cheerily to the others. Gaul arrives at the Lotus Rooms at precisely 2, blue eyes alert but not wary as he acknowledges the hostess opening the rice-paper door and ushering him into the room beyond. He looks at those around the table, a formal nod at Kensai - the only face he recognizes. He observes proper custom based on individual and whatever Japanese savoir-faire he can muster from his wetware but otherwise says nothing otherwise as he settles. He's dressed in a business casual, all darks - but he's carrying a black slingbag across his back. The elderly man's eyes flick to his looming bodyguard, who nods. Servers come in, placing full cups of steaming green tea in front of the people at the table, as well as a hot tea pot - then in comes trays laden with teriyaki chicken sticks, assorted kinds of sushi, and shrimp tempura. Once the servers leave, the old man gives another nod, and there's an audible 'click' from the sliding door that -looks- like ricepaper but might… not be. Next the old man looks at Kensai, raising an eyebrow. Kensai bows, wordlessly, and pulls one of his sleeves back, revealing a polished cyberarm that reaches all the way back to his elbow. A panel slides open, he presses a button, and the room slowly fills with the barely audible static of white noise. The old man looks at the others assembled. "Greetings," he says in heavily accented english. "I apologize for the extensive steps, I have taken, but in this case discretion is important. In respect to your valuable time, I will be brief. Mister Tokugawa Ariko, an employee of Renraku, had requested a change in employment. Efforts were made to arrange his liberty, and yet, at the last moment, he was snatched from our grasp by another team. I would like you, assembled samurai, to take him back for us." Victor looks over the offered food with evident excitement. He pours himself some tea and grabs (of course) the food on a stick to start nibbling while he settles in to listen to the pitch. The proposal makes him squint an eye uncertainly, but he doesn't say anything yet. Question time at the end, maybe? Anyway, in the meantime he slowly chews on his food. (semi-repose as ginny and sammie join) The call comes, of all times, around lunch time - your fixer-of-choice calls you up, telling you about a job - the johnson is as legit as johnsons get, unlikely to be a backstab, money's good, etc - then he passes on the information. It is a formal late lunch-time invitation to dine at the Tsunami Gardens, with instructions to go to the Lotus Room at exactly 2 pm mountain time. The directions are easy enough to follow, and the smiling, obsequious hostess leads you to the appointed room - the maglock is disengaged from within and the latecomers are allowed inside. Kensai blinks. "Renraku?" He seems surprised, his gaze going directly to the old man sitting cross-legged in front of a long, low table laden with tea and finger-foods. The elderly man nods gravely. "Tokugawa… I believe I know him." He then blushes at his outburst, and looks to the others for their responses, briefly looking up as Ginny and Sammie enter. Ginny frowns as she comes in, having actually grabbed a proper, gray, three-piece suit. White shirt. Red tie. Boring and corporate. Discounting a slight flowery pattern on the tie. And her nerd-taped glasses, tilting her head as she is unaware of what is being discussed, tilting her head at one of the few japanese words she recognizes. Sammie follows the others into the room quietly having received the call as she enters she gives a little respectful bow to the older man, looking perhaps a bit odd, the pale redhead, dressed in a charcoal grey suit, the perhaps is a bit off the rack.. Gaul has laced his fingers in front of him and fixed the old man with a full-biz look, he listens to the details of the hire and waits a full 10 seconds after the man has finished (and Kensais outburst) before speaking, "So the mission would be retrieval from offending team or has he been delivered to the competing interests? What is Renraku's current involvement and commitment to…retaining him?" he ventures. The old man looks at Sammie and Ginny, nodding approvingly at their formal choices, then looks at Kensai expectantly. Kensai, realizing his role, looks at the newcomers. "We are being asked to retrieve a mister Tokugawa from the hands of the forces that extracted him before friendly assets could." The old man nods, pleased with this summary, and looks to Gaul. "Retrieve Tokugawa for us," he clarifies. "We are uncertain at this point if Renraku is even aware of the situation. We only know of it because he snuck a message out to us. They will want him back. As for the competing interests…" he makes a face, the first break from his genteel impassiveness. "We do not yet know who they are. As far as we are aware, he has not been delivered to -them- yet. He remains in the city - or he did, before we lost contact with his tracking signal approximately 165 minutes ago." The big man in the corner stirs, and carries a briefcase to the table. "Inside this case is all the information we have on the matter. It should prove useful - particularly in the hands of computer expert." He takes all the runners in, then looks up at the big man again. The big man also looks at the runners. "We are offering a sum of one hundred and twenty thousand for his retrieval. There is an advance of 25 in the case, for operating expenses." Gaul nods at the answer of the old man and at the additional details offered by the beefy suit, eyes linger on the briefcase a moment and then at the man and his offer. Blue eyes twitch to the other runners around the table reading body language and who might be the one to start the negotiations. Sammie laces her finger in front of her self as she watches and listens letting others do the talking a she takes everything in, his eyes moving from person to person in the meeting taking them in. Ginny nods, looking over at Sammie, straightening up "Retrieving people…" she starts, frowning just a little "How much trouble can we count on?" she just asks. The old man looks at Ginny, sizing her up briefly but politely. "Unknown. We understand there at least two opponents at hand, but there may certainly be more we are unaware of. They successfully extracted Mr. Tokugawa from the clutches of his parent company without detection, persuading him at the time that they were, in fact, our own operatives. We can therefor assume excellent competence." "Elder Brother," the large man says, apparently the old man's voice in matters as discourteous as money, "Will offer an additional twenty thousand if you can discover their true employer." Victor takes all this in calmly, flicking his gaze from one to the next and possibly wondering if he might be overdressed for this meeting. With the parameters laid out, he tears the last chunk of chicken off the stick and chews slowly before washing it down with a sip of tea. "How about one-eighty?" he asks with a shrug. "Bit of a ticking-clock situation, isn't it? And if there's a *third*, *unknown* party looking to bag your man, we don't even know what kind of kabuki minefield we're walking into." He purses his lips and thinks for a moment. "Great name for a band, that." «Plot» Kensai says, "after the meet and negotiation (if any), we will pause for today, so i can ambush finn. There is the potential for significant legwork to be achieved here, so if you have any ideas you can @mail them to me, too. :)" Ginny stays silent in negotiation, looking around, but being quiet, afraid she'd push it "Kabuki Minefield? Indeed!" «Plot» Kensai says, "go go magic negotiation, victor! your tn is 6!" Gaul continues to listen and watch the back and forth, a slight smile at the offer of additional nuyen from simply finding data and nothing more than a tick of a nod at the counter offer. «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Negotiation vs TN 6: 2 3 5 8 10 = 2 Successes «Plot» Kensai says, " are you comfortable with 2 success, or would you like to kp a reroll?" «Plot» Victor says, "I will probably do much worse if I try that again." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 6: 1 1 4 5 5 8 = 1 Success Elder Brother manages not to make a face this time, returning to his customary impassiveness, but does look up to his bodyguard with an imperceptible nod. "What would you say to one hundred and fifty, but with the bonus stipend raised to 30 - to make the total 180 if you succeed at your auxiliary task?" Victor wields his chopsticks with comfortable skill, snagging a shrimp tempura from the plate and munching while the clients weigh their options. With the counter-counter-offer deployed, the young Elf looks around to his colleagues to weigh their reactions. "Sounds fair to me," he finally answers in mid-chew. "If that works for everyone else?" Kensai inclines his head just once. "Hai." Gaul looks at the old man then the suit then speaks for the second time, "The Third party. Only discovered? Do you wish any messages sent?" Ginny nods "Absolutely." she offers, chewing on her lip, still seeming nervous in negotiations Elder Brother shakes his head. "Retrieving our friend will be message enough," he says. "We have no need to push further, simply to understand our enemy - and so much the better if they think we do not know who they are." Gaul nods at the answer and then says simply, "I agree to these terms" At the last agreement, Elder Brother rises, offering a bow to the assembled team. "Then you have the room," he says. "For as long as needed today." He and his bodyguard then leave through a hidden entrance in the far wall, the 'rice' door sliding open to let them out and then closed behind them. «Plot» Kensai says, "the briefcase contains several datachips - a dossier on mister Tokugawa, signal-tracking data, including his course through the city, and the entire message he was able to get out to his intended extractors - both with a transcript and with the original audio." Gaul watches the pair get up and leave then looks to the case for a moment before the rest of the team assembled, "Shall we see what is in case number one?" he quips as he motions for Kensai to slide the case his way. Legwork: Gaul - Decking by the Numbers «Plot» Gaul says, "Alright. So what I'll likely do then is start a standard search on Tokugawa (with Agent assistance); using his bio-data (face, voiceprint, etc) to then overlay with the tracking data provided. Also nose into the device he used to send out the audio." «Plot» Gaul says, "To yes, be able to get a read on the potential snatch but also pull back potential rumors, other data out there on the matrix about him. BB Posts, etc. Full on decker crazy." «Plot» Gaul says, "I have Shadowland as a level 2 Contact for assistance in this." «Plot» Kensai says, "all right. we'll start with the search, then? i'm guessing that would be first on your list because it can take the longest time to finish." «Plot» Gaul says, "Indeed. Standard search is 2d6 hours, lemme throw together that real «Plot» Gaul says, "I'll throw 3 more Grids into the search just to broaden it a bit as well as the Matrix Records - Memory Well. Seattle RTG, Denver, Japan." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 2 for "Search Roll 1 - looking for Standard Search details on Mr. Tokugawa.": 1 1 2 3 8 11 11 11 14 = 7 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 2 for "Time": 4 5 «Plot» Gaul says, "So time is 9 hours / 1 + 2, 3 hours." «OOC» Kensai says, "5+ successes looks like you get all the dirt." Oh, you find a lot. First off, although this appears to be mister Tokugawa's first trip to Denver, he has made the most of it. You spot his face from a camera feed at the medievo. From a trip to the live wyre, and even to a high end 'gentleman's' club. The signal tracker first went active this morning, presumably when an alert was called- and you can find images of him AT the Mile High Mall - oddly, though, the same 30-second clip in the mall keeps repeating over and over for what seems like ten cycles. The signal goes around downtown, crisscrossing back and forth, and then promptly disappears as it enters a nondescript office building near the Mooreland hotel. You get the entire message, and from the background filtering you were able to deduce it was probably send via an implanted cellphone. Further back, you can catch him boarding a company jet in kyoto. «Plot» Kensai says, "you also find his name mentioned in a few SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS and even ARMS catalogs - apparently he's an expert in cutting-edge armor construction." «Plot» Gaul says, "Ah. Anyone noted to have reached out to him corporate wise?" «Plot» Kensai says, "Ah! Yes. He had a bodyguard with him in most of the images - but not present in the mall. And no - no information about other companies reaching out to him. He was born on renraku policy and seems to be have been loyal to them for the entirety of a 30-something year career. A lot of sources suggests most of his work has been for the red samurai." «Plot» Gaul says, "Just gonna go down the list. Triangulation of the cell when it sent the message? Any camera feeds attainable from the Mooreland and/or the Office building to confirm that the signal got spoofed or not? I assume there was a decker overwatch that fudged the cameras there. Maybe they missed something. Missing bodyguard is strange, was that done as prep for the planned extraction it seems?" «Plot» Kensai says, "going into the mooreland for their records is going to be going into a different host - and the office building doesn't seem to be registering information at all… just kind of mirroring what's around it, so to not appear like a dead space. The triangulation of the cell message would put it on that same street. if you go back through the information you pulled, the bodyguard was at a pentabucks this morning with mr. tokugawa, but not anywhere since. and tokugawa went straight from the pentabucks to the mall." «Plot» Gaul says, "Interesting. Sounds like I need to snoop Pentabucks as well as the Moorland." «Plot» Gaul says, "Simple search on the office building mystery, building records and the like to see if it's a front or whatever shenanigans and if it has a SAN accessible to get into it. Ie Matrix In/Out." «Plot» Gaul says, "I can deck into the other two faster since they have public Sans most likely." «Plot» Kensai says, "the mooreland is a pretty top-end place with a clientele that pays well from security, but pentabucks… well, you know. they are the kind of company that farms matrix sec out to the lowest builder." «Plot» Kensai says, "re: simple search. go for it!" «Plot» Gaul says, "Just gonna roll against TN2 since I'm sure it is :)" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 2 for "Simple Search looking for info on Mystery Building/SAN": 2 2 3 3 3 5 5 5 10 = 9 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 1: 1 «Plot» Gaul says, "Heh, um. 1 Hour / 1 + 4 successes for time = ~10 minutes." «Plot» Kensai says, "your instincts were right! For all its location right in the heart of things, the office building has surprisingly little mention, anywhere. It hasn't even been mentioned in any police reports you can spot! There is a matrix connection running into it, though it was surprisingly hard to locate… you also manage to find who the property belongs to - an investment group out of seattle, which is owned by an oil company near anchorage, which is owned by a toy company in cleveland, which is then owned by… that same oil company out of anchorage. On the other hand, it is currently leased by a small tech startup located in the (local ucas), which is a subsidiarity of fanpro arcade machines, which is an ucas imprint of a gaming company that belongs to Yametsu. (probably spelled that wrong.)" «Plot» Gaul says, "And we've found Primary target #1 I guess." «Plot» Gaul says, "Alright so, Yametsu shell/sub is currently where I think the target is likely at. But can't confirm yet other than from signal traffic? I need to double check with cameras from surrounding areas (Penta, Mooreland) as well as then looking into the mystery SAN." «Plot» Kensai says, "at the very least you are racing against renraku. they might not have known by the time of your meet, but now… Not to mention whoever hired the agents." «Plot» Gaul says, "Yep. So Gaul will do what he has to and jump a satellite up with the intent of sniffing both Moorland and Pentabucks and possibly the Yametsu host." «Plot» Kensai says, "go for it!" «Plot» Gaul says, "Well. Considering he's now on the top floor of the ritzy apartment he'll see what sort of signal he can snag up there. Deploying his large portal satellite dish in the living room against the floor to ceiling windows (tint on of course). Attaching himself to the Savior Advanced Medkit to monitor his vitals and then hitting the couch with his Deck." «Plot» Kensai says, "duh, i should have asked. so you're hacking from the burnsley building?" «Plot» Gaul says, "Indeed. But via Satellite to avoid any trace." «OOC» Gaul says, "Actually let me figure out where the crap that thing is in Denver…I have no idea." «OOC» Gaul says, "Ah. Gotcha - TN Light Urban -1 for large Sat" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 5 for "Bleep boop lining up a satellite?": 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 7 8 = 2 Successes «Plot» Gaul says, "Nice. Base time is 20 minutes so I cut it by 3." «Plot» Gaul says, "OH. My bad, 20 combat turns lol." «Plot» Gaul says, "So 20 seconds to grab a signal and then head up. Have your pick of who I snag. http://denver.wikidot.com/info:satellite-rtgs" Sitting on the couch the halfer snuggles in and snicks the datajack into his head, double checks the readout and biomonitor on the Savior - hoping it won't be and then lays back against the cushions. A cybered finger presses the skull and crossbones < RAS > button on the deck and away…we…go… «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 2: 2 2 «OOC» Kensai says, "newsnet!" A pitch figure, barely an afterimage or outline bolts up the signal feed skyward, with a puff of ozone and nordic runes the figure transforms into a lightning bolt as it heads beyond pitiful boundaries of the city. Up and up, the bolt scores the underside of a SAN scorching and working it's way past the encryption… «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#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 +6), Decrypt Access M TN: 2 ( 8(File) - 6 Decrypt) vs Host: ? )": 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 8 10 10 11 = 12 Successes «OOC» Th0R says, "Yep. So, making a test vs a File subsystem of 8 with my Decrypt 6 Utility. So TN 2." «Plot» Th0R says, "Detection factor is 17 for this test." «Plot» Th0R says, "Base of 8 (Masking 8 + Sleaze 6) Rounding up. +3 DF for HP Usage. +6 More for the Sneak option on the utility." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 11: 1 2 3 4 10 17 = 1 Success «OOC» Th0R says, "Just detailing everything because it's kinda confusing." «Plot» Th0R says, "Now attempting to log into the actual Satellite, by hitting Access subsystem." «Plot» Th0R says, " SO I'm going to save spam. I have a R6 utility for everything, all with Sneak 6. So DF will stay the same for all my rolls. The TN will change obviously - I'll make note when it does." «OOC» Kensai says, "that makes it easier." «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 3 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 , Logon to Host TN: 3 ( 9 - 6) vs Host: ? )": 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 = 11 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 17: 1 3 3 5 14 16 = 0 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "oh yeah. you're in." The smell of a storm, a prickle on the skin and then a retina searing bolt of lightning streaks from the heavens and scores the ground. The staccatoed impacts taking nano-seconds, but leaving an afterimage of a humanoid form that darkens and resolves into the sculpted figure of the god of Storms. This mono-chromatic figure has been painstakingly rendered from Norse mythology sans color, his winged helm holds at bay dark flowing hair that cascades across strapping shoulders. Ink black skin that somehow emits just enough light to etch each muscle and contour of a body that would make Atlas weep. The air retains a smell of charged ozone about the figure, his steps and movements often generating small arcs of electricity between himself and his surroundings. Iron gauntlets cover his hands, the fingers lined with dimly pulsing runes; runes that mirror those glowing sympathetically across the wide belt girding his torso. The hammer at his side cannot be called elegant, but the legendary Mjollnir was crafted as a weapon of war and is no show piece its blunt head somehow darker than it's owner. The cloak that whips at his back could be mistaken for inky wings as its billowing form exposes an electrical storm raging within it's depths, the thunderheads drawing the eye of the observer into the hypnotic pulses. Residual static flickers across his form, coalescing upwards into his eyes and points across his chest where it emits a continuous cool white glow. Ozone fills the surrounding features of the satellite iconography then a figure steps straight up through the ground, lightning pulses around it and azure blue eyes regard the various icons that float about. A microsecond passes and the figure dives into a RTG icon for CAS. The matrix architecture of the satellite is simple - its purpose is news, and news delivery, and today it's set up like an old-fashioned newspaper office, complete with typewriters and a cigar-smoking editor in chief shouting at people. The typewriter is the target, the keys clattering of their own accord as the electrical pulses manipulate them and send the story earthward. «Plot» Th0R says, " Heading to CAS RTG (Central)" «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 2 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 , Logon to Host TN: 2 ( 6 - 6) vs Host: Green3 )": 1 1 2 2 2 2 4 7 8 8 9 9 10 11 17 = 13 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 3 vs TN 17: 2 5 5 = 0 Successes From the newsroom to the not-so old west, where wild stallions run in the far distance, and the current rtg is situated in a much-cleaner imagining of an Ohklahoma frontier town, with the wind rushing over the plains… A storm is brewing in the sky above the old west, arcs can be seen and then finally a single bolt hurtles down to the dry dusty street. A familiar form appears in the afterimage of the strike - outlined nordic god looks out of place here but none of the millions of passing bits seem to mind. «OOC» Th0R says, "The programming is the key - you simply can't afford to pay for things in Decking…it's just too much." «OOC» Kensai says, "looks like your access brought you no problems." The figure reaches down to a dark pouch at it's waist, moves aside the thrumming hammer hanging on the belt loop and extracts an arcane object? No…it…it's a sparkling ball of condensed glitter, the ball seems to wiggle of it's own accord trying to leap from the fingers of the icon. Like a released wren the all shoots away from the hand and BAMPHS in a sparkle of glitter cloud - pirouetting from the cloud is a heart stopping blond dressed to kill - valley girl style, skirt just so, ear rings just so, nails just so…"YAASSS we're on a MIIISSSHHAANNNNN!" a hiccup-laugh and she's next to the nordic figure, "Hiya!" «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#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), Upload Data 5000mp TN: 2( File: 8-Read/Write Rtg: 6) vs Host: Green_6 9/8/9/8/8 )": 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 15 = 12 Successes «Plot» Th0R says, "Uploading an agent…" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 3 vs TN 17: 1 3 4 = 0 Successes There is an audible sign from the nordic figure, "Yep…mission. We have to stay on task alright? No shopping no pestering…just on mission. Sending details now. I need you to get into Pentabucks SAN 223454, validate and pull all video. We're looking for this guy <Upload Target> A pout. A puff. She leans in and pecks him on the cheek, lipstick fouling the onyx, "Eww he's kinda gross looking, all bulgy and frumpy and corpy. Got it. No frappe, no purses, no nothings…just work. I gotcha babe!" and off she - transforming back into a bouncing glitter ball and blipping away. «Plot» Th0R says, "Heading on into Denver now that that's dealt with." «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 2 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 , Logon to Host TN: 2 ( 8 - 6) vs Host: Orange4 ) Th0R": 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 21 = 14 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls 8 (Pilot) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 2 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 , Logon to Host TN: 2 ( 8 - 6) vs Host: Orange4 ) Laura": 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 4 5 5 8 11 = 10 Successes «Plot» Th0R says, "She'll use the same tricks I'm doing. I'll make a programming test to augment her pilot comprehension rating." «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Programming) + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 6 for "Complicated instructions relayed as if a real live decker.": 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 19 = 5 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls 8 (pilote) vs TN 6 for "Complicated instructions relayed as if a real live decker, kinda shooting from hip here with TN6": 1 3 4 5 5 5 7 10 = 2 Successes «Plot» Th0R says, "She should be chill" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 17: 2 2 4 7 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 17: 1 2 3 5 = 0 Successes The nord heads after the bouncy ball, they both step through the saloon door the programmers giving it just enough resources to "creeeeeaakkk" as it opens. «Plot» Th0R says, "Alright within the LTG, he'll head to whatever LTG it is - sup to you :)" «Plot» Th0R says, "Sorry. RTG. Heading to the LTG the hosts live in now." «Plot» Kensai says, "The pentabucks is super boring - it looks like a pentabucks. I'll spin it up in a second. Are you looking at the Mooreland or the mystery SAN?" «Plot» Th0R says, "Actually. I'll just go ahead and test the SAN tbh, not sure how much time we've got." «Plot» Th0R says, "And I can always send her to Mooreland ;)" «Plot» Kensai throws some numbers at that awesome little generator you shared. «OOC» Th0R says, "Woot!" «OOC» Th0R says, "Ah, also - another thing we'd have done in the last host is get our Battletac links up and running. It would have required a Make Commcall - but I'm fairly sure it's working )" Even in the Denver grid - which,frankly, looks like denver at hyperspeed - this thing is hard to find. It's just a simple black door, hanging out behind an alley, with a single flickering streetlight illuminating it… ooc :thinks we can handwave it. «OOC» Kensai thinks we can handwave it. ooc the comm thing i mean. :D «OOC» Kensai says, "the comm thing i mean. :D" «OOC» Th0R nods and gets ya. «Plot» Th0R says, "Only way to really figure out what's behind door number A is to just log in. Unless it's encrypted." The bouncy ball that's Laura heads off into the hyper-flow of Denver, humming to herself and trying her level best not to get distracted. "Must get to penta, must get to penta"… «Plot» Kensai says, "it is -absolutely- encrypted…" The dark icon glides over to the door and accesses a bag at his waste, bones hit the floor and tumble about - simple analyze to determine status of the SAN - the bones all flip and click and lock in place. Encrypted. Pauses a few milliseconds Th0R reaches forward and starts to organize nordic runes that glow upon the doors service - aligning bits and working through the lock. «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 9 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 11 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF), Decrypt Access M TN: Unknown Access Test -6 TN": 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 10 11 14 15 = 4 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 11 (to no one): 1 1 2 2 3 3 5 8 14 = 1 Success «Plot» Th0R says, "So it gets it's hit. And if it beats me no joy the decrypt doesn't work." A tsk from the icon as the encryption falls into place and he quickly presses against the barrier, pushing through into the unknown. » "Heading in L, watch your six. " «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 11 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF), Logon to Host TN: ?, -6 TN from Utility.": 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 7 8 8 9 «Plot» Th0R says, "DF should be 17, the roll is goofing on me." «OOC» Kensai says, "was it supposed to be 17 for the encrypt, too?" «OOC» Th0R says, "I've got some work to do on this thing it seems - BUGS!" «Plot» Th0R says, "Yep I'm 17 for all my rolls." «OOC» Th0R says, "Sorry for confusion." «OOC» Kensai says, "okay, posing." The system is a step above anything else you've confronted today, but not quite enough to keep you out. Some wiggling and you're in, and into - the dark. Tall buildings stretch overhead, casting long shadows, hiding long-hidden secrets best left to their own devices. Before you stretches an endless alley, shrouded by fog that scatters the light of the flickering streetlights into a glowing diffusion. The street is utterly silent - far away, endlessly far it seems, you can here the traffic of denver, of the city's boundless life, but down this way… it is another world. Occasionally, the hallway's brick walls are interrupted by battered doors. «Plot» Th0R says, "So looking around, do I see other connections off from this room? Standard accesses to other hosts should be visible, but not if they're hidden within a subsystem (not typical)" «Plot» Th0R assumes this is the "greeting" host :) «Plot» Kensai says, "that would probably be the various doors. There are three of them." «Plot» Th0R says, "Excellent, I'm going to go ahead and risk an analyze here to determine what I'm in. Make sure it's not a VM." «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), Analyze Host TN: X ( X - Analyze Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? )": 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 14 «Auto-Judge[]» Th0R (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 - 1 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: ? ) (KP 1)": 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 5 7 10 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 1 3 3 5 5 5 5 15 = 0 Successes «Plot» Kensai says, " Red-9. Control is 15." The street is not a pleasant place. It's featureless - and yet, it almost feels haunted. The shadows are so, so deep and dark, it's hard to even see all the secrets they hold… but if you look closely, you can make out red lines of fire in between the bricks. «OOC» We'll call the doors B, C, and D. The icons sandled feet tread warily on the brickwork as it coalesces from lightning and appears here, the ominous atmosphere indicating to the veteran decker what this place likely is - the dark god hunches in on himself and then expels arms wide and a flock of crow burst forth - cawing and circling the host looking for answers. A moment later the slam back into his form and relay what they've learned. «Plot» Th0R says, "Unless it's encrypted as well, then I'll do something else…he'll check all doors to see if they're encrypted actually before attempting any." «OOC» Kensai says, "none of these doors are encrypted." «Plot» Th0R says, "Door D then." «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), Logon to Host TN: X ( X - Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? )": 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 7 22 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 1 2 2 4 4 5 5 17 = 1 Success Th0R dances across the tiles, avoiding the red as he does - sandled feet treading light as the ozone that surrounds them. The figure reaches the door farthest down the path and presses inward - turning to lightning as he moves on. Door D doesn't stand a chance. Inside here it's quiet, almost serene… if not for the blood running down the walls into the bubbling pit underneath the steel mesh floor. Other users are present here, many of them hanging by hooks, their cries of pleasure and pain echoing through the chambers' endless levels… There is a devil-shaped figure sitting behind a desk of bones, there's a fountain of blood, there's the hooded bats watching from the ceiling… Seemingly undeterred by the iconography he ghosts over to seeping walls and dips a finger in the blood. Walking about the chamber he starts to scrawl the Norse rune for 'home' in strategic places before finally stopping before the figure and pressing a hand print onto the desk; a crow still perched on his shoulder is speaking into his ear - cawing softly as it's beady eyes scout. «Plot» Th0R says, "Analyze to verify this is not a VM, then a Validation attempt." «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), Analyze Host TN: X ( X - Analyze Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? )": 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 8 11 17 «Plot» Th0R says, "Ah Sorry. So a VM is a nasty trick hosts sometimes play - and it looks normal but any Validation or alterations just don't mess with the actual Host beneath it ;)" «Plot» Th0R says, "Alrighty validating Security level passcode (or trying to )" «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 Super-User) - Validate Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? )": 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 5 8 10 11 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 17: 1 1 3 4 5 5 5 5 11 = 0 Successes «Plot» Th0R says, "So JUST a security level account, super user was a bit risky. Security should do what I need I hope. So, using the automatic operations I'm going to analyze system, analyze security, analyze each subsystem" «Plot» Th0R says, "With intent of making sure it's clean of worms, and there are no hidden doors, etc on any subsystems and also getting my Tally count." «OOC» Kensai says, "orange-9 12/12/15/11/15." «OOC» Kensai says, "your security tally was 2." «Plot» Th0R says, "Identification of this node? What's it's function" «Plot» Kensai says, "this is a separate host of its own - it seems to be a virtual-reality sex dungeon." «Plot» Th0R says, "Yea. Alrighty then. So he's going to Monitor slaves and see what's out there in the real world, figure out what slave devices are controlled by this host." «OOC» Kensai says, "it appears to be connected to a literal underground location - below the downtown sector - with about a dozen cameras -currently- recording." Victor's Interlude:Detective Milton Investigates You paged Victor with 'gaul thinks he might have a location - if he does, ken and victor can go stake it out until the reist of the team is ready to go?' Victor pages: That could work. V has a couple of very weak contacts but I don't think much else in the way of info sources. You paged Victor with 'if you feel like your contacts are better suited, you could also dig up information about the J or the target.'. Victor pages: One's a club worker and the other's a detective. Conceivably could touch on all sorts of situations, but at lv 1 still I don't expect them to be super useful. XD You paged Victor with 'hmmm. the detective might be able to tell you more about the j, but probably not about the target.'. Victor pages: That's always worth pursuing, isn't it? Learning more about the client can open all sorts of opportunities. Or turn the whole thing into a noir story where we wake up with mild head trauma. «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) has the Contact Milton with the following information (only to Kensai): ----—> Contact for Victor (#14210) <----— Contact Name: Milton Level: 1 Type: detective GM Note: Human male, 40-something, detective with local security forces. Milton had consulted with Aerandir's family to resolve (or conceal) a variety of issues and indiscretions. An unrelated situation resulted in Milton being reassigned out of Tir Tairngire. Now he hopes by assisting the son of an influential family (or at least convincing Aerandir to return home) he may be able to put his career back on track. You paged Victor with 'okay, super. +roll etq/5=kensai. :)'. «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Etiquette vs TN 5 (to Kensai): 2 2 3 5 = 1 Success You paged Victor with 'milton will dig around for you, after asking for some cheddar to make it easier (deduct 300 from victor's payout), and will call you back right away. Elder Brother has been a factor in the local yakuza for as long as anyone remembers. He seems to have never held an official position, so has managed to survive and thrive over the course of many different regime changes in the local crime scene. He has a gift for knowing the way the wind is blowing, and has contacts… everywhere.'. You paged Victor with 'the most recent rumor is that he has a former red samurai operating as his go-to button man.'. Victor pages: Well… that's a bargain at any price. You paged Victor with 'side effect of the guy being such a long term player. his legend is out there.'. – End Victor's Interlude The afternoon has turned to grey rain - it's a decent rain, the acid content very low today. Kensai has taken up position on a nearby street, sipping on a soycaf and smoking a hand-rolled cigarette as he keeps an eye on the general area. Victor hardly needs eyes on him to be spotted. It's possible he'd be visible from low orbit, particularly with his jewelry twinkling and color-shifting as it does. He comes meandering down the street, casual as ever, ducking from one awning to the next to keep from getting his hair wet. Sammie has arrived. Ginny… preferred her obnoxious, red MyuRu Van. Well, it would be obnoxious, if she didn't turn it 'Free Candy Inside-White' munching on Soy Snacks from a hidden compartment. A girl has to keep her Drones nearby, her other hand is drumming on the steering wheel "I should come up with some fake liveries. Fairly Balanced Insulation?" Commlink-Ginny> Ginny hums, drumming on the wheel coming from her van "Maybe I should actually have come in in all that red." she offers "Say, what do you think of 'Norfolk Security Assistance'? It would…" she stops, shaking her head "Yes. Yes. On position." she repeats. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « excellent. To repeat - our current quarry is our target's corporate assigned bodyguard. He was seen with the scientist constantly for the past few days - and yet, today, when the scientist left the Pentabucks, our man here didn't follow : as a result, the bodyguard wasn't present at the Mile High Mall when the false extraction happened. We are here to pick up that bodyguard, and determine… reasons. How would you like to proceed? » Commlink-Ginny> Ginny sends, « «I assume no surveillance is necessary?» comes Ginny's voice «I could send my bumblebee airborne. I also imagine we don't exactly need to go loud here…» » «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Security Forces: 1 2 3 Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « surveilling the location until the bodyguard - ah, all right, more information from the agent. Is this thing thinking?" He suppresses a shudder. "Quarry's name is Ioto Toshiro, Renraku security staff. They're not as high level as the red samurai, but… well I don't know that much about their capabilities, not as much as I would like. But the lowest tier of personal security provided by Renraku. He will be capable, but not insurmountable. » Commlink-Ginny> Ginny is silent on the other end for a second "I can send two MGs airborne, if it comes to a fight." Commlink-Pavonis> Victor continues to monitor the street from his lookout spot. "If he's in hiding, we could use that. We just want to ask some questions, but he obviously thinks there's somebody out here who means him some harm. Cover the exits, then get a message in? Whatever we're doing it needs to be quick. This guy's not nearly as invisible as he seems to think and there's no telling how long it'll be before someone else comes looking." He ducks into the shop, peering out from behind the windows for a moment before disappearing into the back. «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Intelligence: 2 3 3 4 5 5 Commlink-Ginny> Ginny there is a headshake over at her van "No idea why I thought we had to somehow KO and extract him. Sure. Cover exits, send a message… he might not agree to a chat, though." she muses "I hope he will, but… who knows?" The chemist's is pretty basic. It's run by an elderly ork who has a few auto-drones working behind the counter as she watches her stories on the trid. Victor gets a look - then a second, and then a third - but she doesn't say anything to him while he's just poking his head in. There is an unmarked door next to the entrance to the restrooms, partly hidden behind a rack of self-help datasofts. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Good plan. Want to be the messenger?" He glances up towards the sky. "Good call G - if they're discreet. If we're looking for him, so is his parent corp. We need to be a step ahead of them." He laughs. "I was thinking about the knockout too. We perhaps do not need to be so drastic. » Commlink-Pavonis> Victor sends, « Victor smiles and waves cheerily to the clerk, then rubs his belly and gestures to the bathroom as he makes a somewhat theatrical wince. "Won't be a moment," he assures before ducking in to the restroom. While he's in there he scrubs off some of the visible body paint and switches off his ostentatious jewelry as he wets his hair and lets it flop down over the side of his head. "I think I spotted the front door to the hidey-hole," he tells the others. "I can only assume there's another way out somewhere." » «Plot» Ginny says, "c :hmmms as she pulls a latch and withdraws a small drone, opening a window just high enough to have it start from her hand, as she moves to jack in "Only one way to tell."" Commlink-Ginny> Ginny hmmms as she pulls a latcha nd withdraws a small drone, opening a window just high enough to have it start from her hand, as she moves to jack in "Only one way to tell." «Plot» Kensai says, "ginny - roll some perception and sensor tests for me as you go to the sky?" «Auto-Judge[]» Ginny (#14136) rolls Intelligence: 2 2 3 3 5 5 «Auto-Judge[]» Ginny (#14136) rolls 1: 10 «OOC» Ginny says, "Huh. One default sen…. what" «OOC» Kensai says, "oh fancy" «OOC» Kensai says, "traffic in the area is kind of light. but there is a drone that seems out of place. lingering more than being about on business." Commlink-Ginny> Ginny frowns "We might have competition with drones." she offers, calmly "Seems maybe Renraku on Overwatch." Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « so we need to be fast. If that's them, they'll be here hard and fast. » Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Victor - go take a closer look? I will move into position to support if you need me. » Commlink-Pavonis> Victor keeps fidgeting with his hair, slowly nudging the hue from its normal coppery hue to darker and darker shades until it's ink-black. "Soooo, do we think they tailed us to find this guy? Or they're just being super helpful big-brother types? Either way— yeah, what he said." With time running short he abandons the rest of his intended disguise. "Copy that. Making a move on the door now." He peers out of the bathroom, trying to find a moment when the clerk is busy— or at least out of direct line of sight— to try sneaking through the other door. Commlink-Ginny> Ginny nods, pulling her shotgun closer to her reach "I assume helpful big-brother." she offers "No need to bring the big guns out yet, I presume?" Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « I hadn't thought of them tailing us," quietly. "Dammit. Keep it quick. Gin, can you secure an exit route? » Commlink-Ginny> Ginny stops for a second "Van or just make sure it is open?" she asks with a small frown "As I said. I get the big boys up, the game is up." Commlink-Pavonis> Victor sends, « If you start a bunch of noisy shit while I'm stuck in some corpo assholes panic room, I will throw a horse at you myself. » «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Stealth: 1 3 4 5 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 3: 1 2 5 «Plot» Gaul says, "re Hacking. Correct. Gaul will have decked up to the previous satellite, come down in CAS and slipped over to Den RTG, same LTG and currently outside the Chokepointed HIdden San." The lady behind the pharmacy desk looks up as Victor attempts to stealth in, but if she notices, she doesn't say much… but a small red light on the door has suddenly turned green… Commlink-Ginny> Ginny lets out a laugh, starting the engine, to look for a back entrance to keep the Van there "Of course. And hey! You have it with those animals, Vic." she deadpans, giggling just a little, quickly trying to drive to the delivery entrance «OOC» Kensai says, "When you go through the door, it opens right up for you, revealing a small waiting room manned by a single drone." «Plot» Kensai says, "would you have built yourself a way to get into the chokepointed hidden SAN?" «Plot» Gaul says, "Aye. In our previous session he would have attempted to passcode it. So, picking up from the previous session - Upload Agent. Both he and agent move to Chokepoint, and then use Agent for several Passocde attempts. The agent takes the Tally Increase when he does this proxy hacking, he does not. He does however get to use his skills via her." «Plot» Gaul says, "So Security Passcode, +2 TN vs Control. I believe it was a Red9, Control 15 from my previous experiences :). So TN 11. 15-6(util)+2." Kensai parks the car nearby, gets out, and pulls a hood up over his head to go linger in an alley near the clinic, concealing a small weapon as he does… «Plot» Kensai says, "roll away!" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 11 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Validate Account (Security) TN: 11( Control: 15(+2 Security)-Validate Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 /15/ ) (Agent Proxy)": 1 1 1 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 8 8 9 11 17 = 2 Successes «OOC» Kensai whistles. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one) for "detection?": 2 3 4 4 5 5 5 8 11 = 0 Successes «OOC» Gaul woots at that. Host needs 3 to prevent it. «OOC» Kensai says, "it seems to work nicely." Commlink-Pavonis> Victor prods at the door, looking for some keypad or fingerprint panel, but finds it open. "Well, this is suspicious. If my comms go dark, go ahead and use the explosives." He leaves the mic on while he slips inside, eyeing the drone for any apparent weapons. "Hey, I assume you can hear me through this thing," he says toward the drone. "We've got an extraction ready for you in the delivery area. All we want in return are a few answers. Or we can leave, and let Renraku come knocking instead. I figure you've got less than ten minutes before some wannabe ninja gets an itchy katana finger." «Plot» Gaul says, "Matrix SIde. So. We say start at this beachhead with my second foray. I say make 2 attempts against me - to represent traversing RTG/LTG. I'll end up here with that tally. My Agent shall still be here." The drone blink-blinks at Victor. "Greetings," it says as he enters. "I am help-o-matic. How would you like Doctor Smiles to help you today?" At Victor's comment, the companion drone's sensor blinks on and off, as if it's thinking. "I am sorry. Was that a message for doctor smiles? He's with a patient now. Shall I contact him for you?" «OOC» Kensai says, "roll etq, victor, tn 6." «Plot» Kensai says, "gaul - you read my mind. already done. :D" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 7 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 1 2 2 2 4 5 7 7 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Etiquette vs TN 6: 1 3 4 4 = 0 Successes «Plot» Kensai says, " victor: looks like you're going to have keep talking, unless you'd like to use karma that roll to reroll failures?" «Plot» Kensai says, "ginny - the drone is changing position. would you like to take another perception check to get more information about it? what's the signature on your bumblebee?" «Plot» Victor says, "Ummmm, sure, why not, I think I have some to spare." Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « I'm back online. Team status? I'm not engaged yet if you need an assist. » «Plot» Kensai says, "okay! just mark in the note after roll, how much karma pool you've used." «Plot» Kensai says, "in this case, it would be 1. you haven't used it otherwise this run." «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Etiquette vs TN 6 for "reroll 1 kp": 1 2 3 5 = 0 Successes Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Pavonis is in the clinic looking to deliver our message to Ioto. It appears like we may have an eye in the sky watching us. » Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Roger that. I can do nothing about drones. Camera, doors and otherwise potentially. » Commlink-Pavonis> Victor sends, « Victor is annoyed. "Bad news, team. This robot isn't super helpful. Well, the doctor is about to be way out unless this thing starts getting a message through. Standby." He gets a little closer to the drone and leans forward. At least he covers up his microphone with his hand to muffle it, because when he speaks next to the drone it's at a startling volume. If there's anyone else in the hidden part the shop, they'll probably hear it (unless they're in a soundproofed room or something): "PLEASE TELL DOCTOR SMILES THERE IS A HIT SQUAD COMING TO BREAK ONE OF HIS PATIENTS DOWN FOR PARTS UNLESS HE ESCAPES WITH US IMMEDIATELY." » Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « no worries. keep going. » Commlink-Ginny> Ginny :frowns as she parks up at the back "V…" she begins, scrunching her eyebrows "I don't think it would work…" The machine blinks again, leaning back. "I will convey your message, and…" A hidden door in the clinic opens up, and a man is standing in it. He's japanese, about mid thirties, and fit in the wiry, lanky way rather than heavily toned. He looks pale as a ghost, and - he's holding a pistol, leveled right at Victor. 'Who are you?' He asks, in heavily accented english. 'Who sent you?' Victor holds his hands up, unarmed (apparently), while he looks the guy over. "Easy, tiger," he says in his most assuring tone. "Hi, hey there. I'm Victor. We've got some others on the line, they can hear you. Say hello, team. We sent us. We're trying to find your protectee, and you're our best lead so far. So if you don't mind, could you put that down and come with us before the really bad people show up? We've got maybe five minutes before this shit goes well sideways. There's a truck parked out back ready to get you out of here." «OOC» Kensai says, "etiquette test again, victor. make it pretty!" «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Etiquette: 2 3 5 10 «OOC» Gaul says, "Yea!" Ginny blinks, hand on her shotgun, sitting nervously, unsure if to run or send her armed drones flying, if it went sideways, muttering something, probably encouraging, in Cantonese The man lifts his gun, aiming at Victor's chest for a moment - and then lowers it. "I have little other option," he says. He turns, tosses a credstick to a gobsmacked gnome - apparently the legendary Doctor Smiles - and then looks at Victor. "Let's get out of here," he says. "Hello team. We talk more under cover, hai?" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Intelligence: 1 4 4 4 Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Take the front. There's someone coming down this way. » Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Th0r, can you find a camera feed for this alley? » Commlink-Pavonis> Victor sends, « Victor is, justifiably, concerned about whether his persuasions were effective. And wondering whether he remembered to wear armor this time, or brought a change of underwear. But at last the situation moves along and the young elf's shoulders relax as he exhales. "Good, very good. Smart choice. Right this way, out the back, please. Team, we're moving. Please tell me you're ready to roll." He shrugs off his coat and throws it over the top of their subject's head if allowed, to conceal him from any aerial surveillance on the way to the truck. » «OOC» Kensai says, "victor, perception check as you check the back door?" «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Intelligence: 2 2 3 4 5 5 «Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will ask Laura (Agent) to facilitate the escape of the team. Hacking anything she deems needed to cover the retreat (Cameras in alley and office, she will insure no images of the team are shown or of Victor) I will make her piloting vs TN of your choosing for comprehension." Before Victor sticks his head all the way out, he can see Kensai standing near the back door, facing down the alley - there's a person in a lined coat facing him, and they are in the midst of some sort of standoff. "I am so sorry," Kensai says, bowing hastily. "I am lost. Can you tell me the way to the nearest izakaya?" The man grunts and replies in japanese that kensai should get out of the way. «Plot» Kensai says, "hmmm. make it tn 4." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 8 (Programming of Gaul) + 8 (Hacking Pool of Agent) vs TN 4 for "Like, OMG I can tots help out the team! Lezzzzgooo!!! Comprehension of orders.": 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 7 14 = 8 Successes Commlink-Ginny> Ginny tilts her head "So, back? Just let me open the door, you guys should be ready to go." she offers, frowning, hand on the drone release "Juuust a second, things might go… not good." Victor pulls their asset to the side at the last moment to keep him out of sight while Kensai handles the situation. He tries to make eye contact with Ioto to make the international sign for 'shut your fucking mouth.' But just in case, he makes to ready his own pistol. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Th0r, confirm you have the camera? » «Plot» Gaul says, "What would you like me to roll to deal with cameras? Shall I just passcode the host (i'm assuming the clinic?) and then have her wreak havoc?" «OOC» Kensai says, "gaul - oh yeah, your girl has the cameras in the alley. they belong to the pharmacy, actually, not the cops, and they have very poor security. :D" «Plot» Gaul says, "Let me roll the validation then and we'll assume she tidies up a bit eh?" «OOC» Kensai says, "but for the sake of it… control here is 7. blue system. grab some passkeys. :D" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 7 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Validate Account (Super-User) TN: 7( Control: 7(+6 Super-User)-Validate Rtg: 6) vs Host: Blue_ Control 7 Agent Action.=kensai": 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 8 15 = 2 Successes «Plot» Gaul says, "Drops a superuser in here and then stays to monitor. Will crash if useful. Also will pull camera footage and otherwise of what the Bodyguard was doing here, see if any camera feeds for Dr. Smiles." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 1 1 2 4 5 = 0 Successes Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Get our guy to the van and somewhere safe. Gin, see if you can shake the aerial. I'll handle this guy. He's Ren security, I can smell it. » Mr. Ioto hits the wall next to Victor as he gets pulled aside, and looks back at the man Kensai is staring off with, then whispers. 'I knew it! Did they follow you?' Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Laura has dealt with the camera and clinic as well as any fallout related to his stay there. » Victor shushes Ioto. "They probably followed the same trail you left, but that's not important now. C'mon, we're moving." With the signal from Kensai he waves Ioto onward and moves swiftly alongside him, helping shove him into the van before climbing in alongside. Without further ado he slams the door shut before making sure Ioto is buckled in. And, of course, reclaiming his jacket. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Reaction vs TN 4 for "on gaul's signal, kensai attacks.": 1 1 2 2 3 4 7 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Reaction - 2 vs TN 4 for "on gaul's signal, kensai attacks. kp 1/14": 2 2 2 3 33 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Reaction - 3 vs TN 4 for "on gaul's signal, kensai attacks. kp 3/14": 2 2 4 11 = 2 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "Victor - you can get iota to the van. pose it, and Gin-rummy can post the exit and trying to shake the eye in the sky! Gaul - quick query. does ken know who laura is?" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 4 for "wait what?": 2 2 3 3 3 5 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 - 1 vs TN 4 for "wait what? kp 1/?": 2 3 3 5 5 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 - 3 vs TN 4 for "wait what? kp 3/?": 2 3 3 = 0 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "guy can't defend against kensai. Kensai goes for pen first, called shot for larynx." Victor and Ioto clear the rear of the clinic and swiftly dive into the waiting getaway van. Once they're both secured, Victor starts studying Ioto's face more closely. Then, wiggling his nose and pursing his lips, he begins to press on his own features here and there— nudging cheekbones, flattening his nose, rounding off his ears— to look more like Ioto's long-lost twin. Well, that might be unsettling. Commlink-Ginny> Ginny jacks herself in «"K, we are running."» she offers «"See you later?"» she asks, getting the bumblebee back and tucking it in «"Losing Big Brother should be easy enough. MinLove can't love us enough"» «OOC» Kensai says, "make a driving test to cut your way through the alleys and lose your tail?" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Pentjak-Silat + Combat Pool: 4 + 1 vs TN 8 for "+4 tn called shot, but target has no defence": 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 15 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Pentjak-Silat + Combat Pool: 4 + 1 - 1 vs TN 8 for "+4 tn called shot, but target has no defence kp 4/14": 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 17 = 1 Success «OOC» Ginny says, "Drive + 2 for diff 2, I believe?" «Auto-Judge[]» Ginny (#14136) rolls Car + 2 vs TN 2 for "RAcing tires on Van plus jacked in.": 1 2 3 3 4 5 9 = 6 Successes Ginny dropped Toyota Myu-ru Van. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Pentjak-Silat + Combat Pool: 4 + 1 - 2 vs TN 8 for "+4 tn called shot, but target has no defence kp 6/14": 1 1 2 3 5 5 5 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 6 for "my froat!": 1 3 3 4 = 0 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "Given the nature of K's blow, guy will only take M stun BUT he cannot speak for… a while." «Plot» Kensai says, "ginny, what's the signature on your toyota?" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Initiative with a result of 11. «OOC» Ginny says, "2" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 1 for "+6": 9 «OOC» Ginny should lower the sig some time :P «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 4 for "sensor test": 2 2 4 4 5 = 3 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "ginny, pose cutting through alleys. you believe you manage to slip detection." Victor carries on adjusting his features to refine the mimicry. There's not much he can do about his hairstyle not entirely matching (unless Ioto has a fabulous floppy fauxhawk?), but it might be enough to get the facial recognition spinning in circles. "Do you have any comms gear on you?" he asks Ioto, in Ioto's own voice. "Gimme all of it. I'm gonna need everything I can get to leave breadcrumbs everywhere. They've probably got it all tapped anyway." In his own voice he says to Ginny, "Once you get some distance from the clinic and we're not, yanno, being shot at, drop me off at a bus stop or a train station or whatever. While I'm running around town as him for a few hours you guys can get clear, and *you*," he adds, jabbing Ioto in the shoulder, "can answer a few questions on the way." «Plot» Kensai says, "ken 11, badguy 10" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Reaction vs TN 4 for "quickdraw fineblade": 1 4 4 5 5 5 11 = 6 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Edged Weapons + Combat Pool: 5 vs TN 4 for "knifing a guy in a back alley, cougar longblade": 1 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 10 19 = 9 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 + Combat Pool: 4 vs TN 6 for "+2 tn stun, karate defense": 1 1 2 3 4 4 5 11 = 1 Success Alleys. Lah, Ginny dealt with tighter streets back at home. Now. Gas down, wheel to the left, barrel past KEnsai, down an alley, right here, swap to another alley there, drive on two wheels briefly, twist here and there, drive back on yourself a few times «Thin we might lose them?"» she asks, finally starting to find an alley towards their goal after a bit «OOC» Kensai says, "guy has no kp left. damage stages 8 times from 8m to 10d. 4 impact armor." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 + Combat Pool: 4 vs TN 6 for "ouch": 2 3 4 4 5 5 9 10 = 2 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "stages down to an S." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 12 for "keeping his feet": 1 1 1 2 5 5 = 0 Successes «Plot» Kensai says, "ginny - it appears to be clear. free posing on your end." «Plot» Kensai says, "gaul - your girl is getting a fair bit of info on dr. smiles, appears he's an unlicensed chemist specializing in first aid for the disenfranchised." «OOC» Kensai says, "bad guy - simple action ready his sidearm, ready action take a potshot at ken." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 9 for "-2 tn smartlink, +2 attacker in melee, +2 stun, +3 phys": 2 2 3 3 4 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Edged Weapons + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 2 for "knifing a guy in a back alley, cougar longblade. -2 tn for target prone.": 2 2 4 5 5 5 11 16 = 8 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 9 for "karate defence": 3 3 4 9 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 vs TN 9 for "oh my gentle jesus": 2 5 5 7 = 0 Successes «Plot» Gaul says, "re Laura. She will detail what she finds back to Gaul via private channel and he will instruct her to upload to whatever she finds to a secure drop box. She is additionally looking for paydata related to Smiles for later extortion. She will erase all footage of the team, Iota and incrimination items. Also while bored will just scan all subsystems looking for hidden crap." Commlink-Ginny> Ginny Frowns »"Seems clear."» she offers up «"Still won't take a highway. Might allow higher speeds, but also more room for surveillance."» she begins «"Even on swapped Transponders, it is safer to take back routes."» «Plot» Gaul says, "Because moving at 5d6+10 she gets BOOORRREDDD fast." As Victor appears in the alley with Mr. Ioto, the stranger in the long coat's eyes go to him - big mistake. The moment his eyes are off kensai, the street sam moves. Step straight in, then a diagonal step, elbow to the ribcage and then a knife-hand chop to the throat. The man gasps, staggering, but his suffering has just begun. Kensai's knife is out next, drawn from the small of his back with a move that would make an iajitsu master blanch… he takes a half step in, making his enemy fall back, but then kensai crouches and slashes up. Blood flows like water - and at the same time, Kensai slaps the back of the man's knee with his free hand, dropping him to the ground like a sack of rice. The man, badly bleeding, is put back on the last of his training- fighting for his life, he draws a silenced pistol from his coat… but he's losing a lot of blood, and his bullet spang helplessly against the wall. After Kensai's next move, the man will never rise again. «Opponent down,» he says, quickly searching the man's body. «Silenced pistol. Renraku plainclothes, I think. Our friends are moving fast. Find out what you can and we need to be on the move.» Kensai says in Japanese, "You fought well, watcher," gently tucking the man's hands across his chest and squeezing them. "But are but a shinobi for a false daimyo. May karma do you better in your next incarnation." Then he stoops, lifting the man's body, and takes him to the nearest dumpster. The pistol gets dumped in the next one. «Set a rendezvous. I will meet you in - thirty minutes.» «Plot» Kensai says, "right. there is another user on the system, moving fast, looking for some of the same files she is." «Plot» Gaul says, "Current Sensor is 4 atm." «Plot» Kensai says, "wanna roll those bones?" «OOC» Gaul says, "Just a sec, lemme take a peek at some actions she might do." «Plot» Gaul says, "roll 4(scanner)" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 4 (scanner): 2 4 5 7 Victor keeps fidgeting with his altered face and testing out Ioto's voice, fortunately with his comms muted. Ginny probably hears it though. "Unique New York," "The Human Torch was denied a bank loan," that kind of thing. "Alright, I think I got it." He switches his comms back on so everyone can hear. "Now Ioto-san, gimme any comm gear you have and start telling us everything you know about your former protectee. Make it quick. Movement patterns, favorite foods, any safehouses that aren't listed in his file. With any luck we'll be rescuing him next…" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 2 for "=kensai( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Alter Icon TN: 2( Control: 7-Redecorate Rtg: 6) vs Host: Blue_ ) What are you?": 1 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 8 11 = 11 Successes «Plot» Gaul says, "Just making the roll to see how well it goes." «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Etiquette: 1 1 1 3 The man shakes his head. "My principal? He fucked me. Bought me soycaf. Should have known better. He does not have a generous heart. Spent next three hours passed out in men's room. But father company does not appreciate failure. It will end badly for me." «Plot» Gaul says, "'The Analyze Icon operation scans any icon and identifies its general type: IC, persona, application and so on.' (for reference)" «Plot» Gaul says, "FOllowed by a Scan Icon :)" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 for "?": 1 4 5 10 10 21 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 for "?": 1 1 1 3 5 7 «Plot» Kensai says, "Persona. The icon comes across as a fifteen-legged spider with a gleaming red carapace, walking around and spreading its web on system after system. It is interrogating the cameras now." «Plot» Kensai says, " you, personally, looking at the data you've got so far, and the very methodological approach its taking, think it might itself be an agent." Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Hostile agent in system. Be aware it might gain access to cameras. Countering. » A few more blocks down, and kensai is peeling off his hoodie, throwing it into a trashcan - putting some trash on it- and then sets the trash on fire. Victor shrugs. "Well, it won't end today," he says to Ioto with a smile. "So he drugged you to keep you off the board while he made what he thought was an escape. You must have noticed other changes in his behavior before that. Mysterious phone calls, meetings in parking structures, that kind of thing? Just think for a minute and tell— tell her anything you think of while she's saving your ass." He taps on the roof of the van and says, "Hey, G, lemme out at that stop over there. I'm gonna go make some chaos." «Plot» Gaul says, "What is the status of the cameras? Meaning is there any reason that them gaining access would be bad? If not then Laura will Trace MXP of the icon while they work." «Plot» Gaul says, "If them team is out of viewing and all logs are tidy, then she'll let the entity do their operations on cameras :)" «Plot» Kensai says, "team is… as of now, out of viewing, and you've already munched the records. Feel free to trace away." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (Pilot) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 3 for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Trace MXP Address I TN: 3( Index: 9-Browse Rtg: 6) vs Host: Blue_) // Free System Action - Interrogation see how good she does.": 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 9 = 8 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 for "mystery dice": 2 3 4 4 7 7 «OOC» Kensai says, "don't seem to be landing a trace." «OOC» Kensai says, "everything seems to wind up looking at gossamer web, instead." «OOC» Gaul says, "Interesting. Know skill to figure this out based on what she's returning me?" «OOC» Kensai says, "sure! defensive utility design would be right, i think." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Defensive Utility Design + Task Pool: 3 for "Hrmm…I've done this before…": 1 1 1 2 3 3 4 9 «OOC» Kensai says, "looks like a sleaze utility at play to you." «OOC» Gaul says, "Hmm. So a better Trace then? TN?" «OOC» Kensai says, "you have to use the system's trace then, right?" «OOC» Gaul says, "Nah. You use your own utilities basically. Anything done on the host just uses the ACIFS ratings since you're doing it there." «OOC» Kensai says, "okay. so the index here is 6." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (Pilot) + 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), Trace MXP Address I TN: 2( Index: 6-Browse Rtg: 6) vs Host: Blue_6 7/7/6/7/7 )": 1 1 3 3 3 4 4 5 7 7 10 14 = 10 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 17 (to no one): 2 4 5 5 5 9 = 0 Successes «Plot» Gaul says, "5 Successes on interrogation is what you're looking for." «Plot» Kensai says, "roger. You have the mxp!" «Plot» Gaul says, "Next operation will be a Scan Icon to figure out wtf they are." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 4 (hp) for "OPen test, Automatic so no tally.": 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 5 9 10 «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 4 (hp) for "OPen test, Automatic so no tally.": 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 4 4 5 5 5 «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 4 (hp) for "OPen test, Automatic so no tally.": 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 5 5 5 9 17 «OOC» Kensai says, "yes! you get 1!" «OOC» Kensai says, "so in this case you get an answer to… a list i've got here in matrix, right? under scan-icon?" «OOC» Gaul says, "Yep. one of those items. I can choose. I think MPCP of icon and or Rating if an Agent." «OOC» Kensai says, "Rating is 8." «OOC» Kensai says, "the system seems to have discarded the camera search, and is now searching through files…" «Plot» Gaul says, "Which have been secured? Right? So Laura will continue with her previous instructions of pilfering host of interesting/useful bits." «Plot» Kensai nods nods. Yup. this guy seemed to keep little in the way of patient data - as little as possible, at least - but you were able to find some information about suppliers. «OOC» Kensai nodnods. Tell me about your chaos, vic! «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 for "eye in the sky sensors, sweeping back to check on things…": 2 4 5 5 9 «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 4 (hp) for "OPen test, Automatic so no tally.": 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 10 «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 4 (hp) for "OPen test, Automatic so no tally.": 1 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 7 11 The spider finishes shifting through files, chittering around as it went through its perusal of nothing… and now it crouches, its body suddenly corpulent… and starts laying some eggs… «Plot» Gaul says, "Alright. Agent will simply follow this thing if possible. The rules on that are kinda nebulous - so however you like." «Plot» Gaul says, "Oh. Well now. Scan that!" «Plot» Gaul says, "THAT is an icon." «Plot» Gaul says, "Sorry analyze icon" «Plot» Kensai says, "will laura follow this spider home?" «Plot» Victor says, "Victor will be roaming around town via bus/train with Ioto's face. If Ioto gave him any comms gear, will be making random calls (to hotels, restaurants, foreign resorts, airlines, etc) using Ioto's voice. Basically try to hit as many cameras across as wide an area as possible in a couple of hours. Then get to a train depot or other crowded area with a large/shared bathroom, and revert to himself." «Plot» Kensai says, "hmmm, okay! roll a disguise test!" «Plot» Gaul says, "So the Analyze is actually a different roll, it just identifies what this thing is it's laying. Much easier." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 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), Analyze Icon TN: 2( Control: 7-Analyze Rtg: 6) vs Host: Blue_6 7/7/6/7/7 ) what is this EGG thing?": 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 7 10 = 12 Successes «Plot» Gaul says, "After Which she will follow the spider home." «Plot» Kensai says, "oh - it's laying dataworms." In the host decorated as a cheap pharmacy a very attractive blond, decked out in a smart pencil skirt, low, LOW cut blouse and high heels stands with her hand on her hip as she watches the terribly ICKY spider do it's business. "» Ohh GAAROOOSEEE it's laying eggs or something…Dataworms. So gross. So…keep watching? KIll it? What'cha want me to do boss?" the glitter on her cheeks and on her eyelids flickers in the light as she continues to analyze. «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Disguise for "TN -2 for facial sculpt": 2 4 5 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 3 for "mystery bones": 1 1 2 In a host far away another icon that resembles a nordic deity of Thunder cocks it's pitch black head, azure eyes glow and a message returns to his lass. » Follow if you can. We've got it's MXP but it could be interesting to see where it goes. Please avoid injury…" Once Ioto was settled in the getaway van Victor went about disguising himself as their new friend. With his jacket turned inside-out, he hopped out near a bus stop and jumped aboard the next bus to wherever, only to get off again a few stops later and transfer to another. He kept moving, while staying alert for signs that any surveillance teams were closing in; ready to drop the disguise in an instant should it be necessary before he managed to get to a crowded site where he'd planned to make the trail evaporate. «OOC» Kensai says, "she follows out into the denver rtg, then the cas, then the name news satellite you did… then down into seattle, and then ducks behind a corporate office's host." «Plot» Gaul says, "Heh. Capture the SAN. And then report back." «Plot» Kensai says, "armada personnel: seattle office. it's one of renraku's staffing subsidiaries." «OOC» Kensai says, "okay, need to walk dog again. be back shortly." » "Aww I'll be careful babe! Don'chu worry about lil ole me, you buy me all kinds of best things! I'll give it a good pursing if it gets all handy and stuff" The sharply dressed blond then hums to herself as she follows the spider out of the host and trails it back to it's nest. Victor's quest through the city takes as long as he wants it to - but perhaps toward the end, he's being hailed - it's time to do the thing! «OOC» Kensai says, "victor - you think you probably managed to get spotted in about 5 different locations. Good job!" Hailing frequencies closed, mofos. Victor dives into the nearest crowded area and scurries into a large bathroom (or the like) to turn his jacket back around and put his appearance back to normal. Or at least normal for him, more or less. «Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will hail Laura and have her invade the host of the target. Standard procedure. Infiltrate and evade. Meanwhile he moves from his beachhead to Host C. For Host D he WILL have looked at the Slave feed to see what he's dealing with and see what is leverageable for what they're doing." «OOC» Gaul says, "Sorry. She will continue into the Spiders host in Seattle and infiltrate it. I will meanwhile upload another version of her to help here. Agents have no limit to instances. It's all about uploading. Prepare for Agent swarm." «OOC» Kensai says, "door C, you say? okay. This one -is- encrypted." «OOC» Gaul says, "So in this case he will upload a single instance to assist. Since I wanna do some hacking." «Plot» Gaul says, "So for Plot. Gaul will upload Agent Laura to Host since it's validated here it's auto, he will initiate Battletac on it. He will also instruct Agent Laura (in Seattle RTG) to head on into the host and report back real time (via Battle Tac)." «Plot» Gaul says, "First will make sure the SAN is not riddled with Worms (Analyze-free) then Decrypt San." «Plot» Gaul says, "Ah What is this hosts Stats? I think you posted it before but lost it. It's actually a system test here that incurs a Tally." «Plot» Kensai says, "the chokepoint host?" «Plot» Gaul says, "Aye." Kensai will rendezvous with Victor at a small soda-shop near the newest target right in the heart of downtown. "Everything turn out okay?" He'll ask the prettier man. "Heard you were having an identity crisis." «Plot» Kensai says, "red 9 14/15/13/14/14" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Computers (Decking) + Hacking Pool: 4 vs TN 8 (to Kensai) for "( HP to DF: 6, Current DF: 17 (Base: 8 , HP to DF: +3 DF, Sneak Option: +6 DF), Decrypt Access M TN: 8( Access: 14-Decrypt Rtg: 6) vs Host: Red_9 14/15/13/14/14 ) (Agent Proxy Attempt)": 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 8 9 9 11 = 4 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 = 0 Successes «OOC» Kensai just forgot to put a slash in a +Roll line and my screen exploded lol Victor has a root beer float he's slurping on, to go with the corndog in his other hand. "Oh, hey!" he calls to Ken. "Heard what? Oh, nah, everything's fine. I think I left enough breadcrumbs everywhere to keep them busy chasing ghosts for a while. The old Kansas City Shuffle." He grins and swings his hips side to side. "How about you? That long coat looked like real trouble, but…" He makes a show of looking Kensai up and down. "Here you are, so I guess it all worked out." «Plot» Kensai says, "you have the door decrypted!" «Plot» Gaul says, "Access it now, I'll combine the pose ;)" «Plot» Gaul says, "open test now access" «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: ? ) (Gaul going through, Laura Next)": 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 Kensai shrugs slightly. "You know how it goes. Personal Business with Company Men always end one of two ways." He is sipping some kind of weird green tea soda. "I think there may need to be a lot of housecleaning soon." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 11 vs TN 17 (to no one): 2 3 3 5 5 5 5 7 8 10 11 = 0 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "the door remains shut." «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: ? ) (Gaul going through, Laura Next) (reroll 1KP I believe used so far? Will go back and verify)": 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 11 13 22 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 11 vs TN 17 (to no one): 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 7 9 10 10 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#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), Logon to Host TN: X ( X - Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) (Gaul going through, Laura Next) Agent heading through…": 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 5 5 5 5 7 «OOC» Kensai says, "no access for laura!" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 11 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 8 11 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#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), Logon to Host TN: X ( X - Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) (Gaul going through, Laura Next) Agent heading through…": 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 8 «OOC» Gaul says, "14?" «OOC» Gaul should have just done it for her - silly Gaul. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 11 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 2 2 3 4 5 5 7 7 9 10 = 0 Successes "I do not know how it goes," Victor says cheerily, "and I make it a point not to find out. Still, I'm glad to see you proved the more determined negotiator." He gnaws off a chunk of corndog and munches slowly, trying not to picture whatever violence must have ensued while he and the others made their escape. "Though I think you're right about that. Mister… let's call him Fun. Guy Fun." For the benefit of anyone listening in, of course. "He wanted out *so badly* he doped his own bodyguard? Something wild going on over there. Maybe something more than just a cushy job offer. And who sent the babysitter squad after us, anyway? Honestly this whole thing is making my head hurt." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#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), Logon to Host TN: X ( X - Deception Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? ) (Gaul going through, Laura Next) Agent heading through…": 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 8 8 10 17 «Plot» Kensai says, "agent is through!" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 11 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 10 = 0 Successes Matrix side the afterimage of an icon drops the familiar glitter ball to the floor that then morphs into the attractive lady agent - who looks around idly making ugly faces at this ugly host. "Can…we just…ya'know…go shopppppinnng?" a slight smile mars the tern face of the nordic god as he strides up to the rightmost door - leading his lass along by the hand and just points. "Here…lets just do it together eh?" small sizzles of lightning arc across the door and azure runes appear and fade upon it's surface, "Aww…this is nice" the agent murmurs….then Th0R just slides through the wood paneling. The agent moves to follow but bonks her head against the door, "Ouchie…stoopid…" <Bonk> a second time, the pert pretty face scrunches up and turns into pissed off not-pretty face, "Mother-fragging…" and she super-girl flies into the paneling - disappearing as well. Kensai idly reaches to his arm and presses a switch - and the air gets kind of… fuzzy? (R6 wng engaged. Enough to cause trouble for any listening devices but also be kind of lost in other background noise.) "Hai," casually, taking ice cubes out of his drink. He sets down one cube. "Mr. Toymaker," he says. He puts down a second cube. "Is protected by Mister Fun. However, Mister Fun is not employed by Mr. Toymaker." He puts down another cube. "He is paid by Grandfather. So if Mr. Toymaker wants to leave the family behind, he must first deal with Mister Fun." He takes a sip of his drink. "Grandfather, however, will look for both of his grandchildren, until he learns whose idea is what." As opposed to the hellish sex dungeon, this host - a battered door down a foggy alley - is dark and empty. It is a japanese swamp, on a moonless night, no stars in the sky. The entrance has a small jetty made of half-rotten wood, with a small wooden boat waiting at it. Distantly, one can make out the lights of some kind of hunt - and the distant sounds of night-time waterfowl. «Plot» Gaul says, "Is the hut a second SAN leading off this one?" «Plot» Gaul says, "Proxy usage of Agent. Will analyze host for shenanigans (VM or otherwise)" «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: ? ) (What do we have here hmm? Using Agent as proxy)": 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 11 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 = 0 Successes «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: ? ) (What do we have here hmm? Using Agent as proxy) (Reroll - 2KP)": 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 14 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 11 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 2 2 3 4 4 4 7 8 9 11 = 0 Successes Victor continues eating blithely while he watches Kensai's explanation. "I'm not sure that helps," he admits. "But I appreciate the effort. Maybe if this one was a salt shaker, and that one was a mustard bottle—" He starts to point with his corndog, but finally shakes his head and thinks better of it. "You know, it's *probably* better if I don't really know all the ins and outs, at least not while we're all in the middle of it. But keep notes! I'll want to read those when this is all done. Maybe a good diagram. Or puppets. We could do puppets. For now I think I need to focus on the current phase of the project." «OOC» Gaul says, "If it's a VM." «OOC» Kensai says, "it is not." «Plot» Gaul says, "Proxy Validate. Then Gaul Validate if she fails." «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 Super-User) - Validate Rtg: 6) vs Host: ? )": 1 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 7 9 «Plot» Kensai says, "got 1!" «Plot» Gaul says, "Will risk it. Host needs 2 to stop me :)" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 1 (to no one): 2 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 11 vs TN 17 (to no one): 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 5 16 = 0 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "seems safe so far!" «Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will attempt to analyze now, see if it's auto." «Plot» Kensai says, "Red-11 16/15/16/17/15" «OOC» Kensai says, "this code is pristine. expert decker work. high-end shadowrunner backed by megacorporate pocketbooks work." «Plot» Gaul says, "Same behavior as before then - careful for landmines - analyze each subsystem looking for traps/worms before any poking in files. Looking for hidden host etc" «Plot» Gaul says, "Scan for said deckers, agents and active IC." Kensai says "I can use stick figures next time, if you like," chuckling lowly. "It was my life for a while. After a fashion. Right now - we are just waiting to know what door to walk through. And hoping it will be opened for us. It will make this much easier. Combine that with a safe route to deliver our Elder Brother's package, and that's all there is." «Plot» Kensai says, "oh yeah there's a literary killer ic there right there near the top. It's some kind of godzilla looking thing inside the swamp. There are acid pits, and one of those birds is a literal scout, and and and… oh there's a whole bank of cameras that don't exist but there's a spawnworm hiding in there." «Plot» Gaul says, "So now that he's got an idea of what is what, see what is viable to poke around in here. What is this hosts function other than eating deckers." «Plot» Kensai says, "the legitimate systems are you find - a nest of door controls, a whole net of ultrasound sensors, and a communication setup." «Plot» Gaul says, "Ah. CnC/Security" «Plot» Kensai says, "yup. whatever this net is protecting is mostly physical, and the high level security is to keep those intact. Probably something that's ready-to-go and set up wherever this team is located." «OOC» Kensai says, "which in turn sort of explains the purpose of the chokepoint - the building seems to lease sections to discreet private entities." «Plot» Gaul says, "So a battletac type of comm system on site? does it have a building layout schematic, etc or some way to use the Ultrasound to give a tactical layout of what they're scanning? Ahhhhhh I see now. They're a host a literal HOST of high security matrix services." Victor thinks on it all while he chews slowly. "True, true, we're all kinda in a holding pattern. That's fair. I don't have a lot of contacts who'd know much else, sadly. But once we locate Mister Fun, we can run basically the same op, right? Sneak him out, misdirect. They'll never expect us to do the same con *twice in a row*. And then we can get paid, and never take a job for the Ya-ya brotherhood *ever* again." He shudders at the thought. "Maybe that's why nobody else tried to bid them up? I can't believe none of you told me about them before I did that." «Plot» Kensai says, "bingo. and the communication system is kind of battletach, but not as advanced in a moving-pieces sort of way - but it also includes a direction comm uplink to a satellite. basically a dedicated satcom service." «Plot» Kensai says, "the ultrasound network has a very baseline floorplan layout, and it seems to include an iff system keyed to comm units." «OOC» Kensai says, "basically it's just penned to trigger alarms to people without the right comm on them." Kensai shrugs. "You were bold. I appreciate it. I am not… negotiating costs is not a role for samurai, especially with their…" he makes a face. "daimyo. After a fashion. it is not how it once was, but, for now…" His voice trails off. "We do what we must to protect those we care about, hai?" He shakes his head. "I am rambling. I am nervous." In the sludgy ole swamp the two icons pause to get their bearings complete with dramatic "Ewws, ohhh garooosses" from the now re-bubbled Agent - the pretty face once again smiling and gazing about. "Do…do we REALLY have to get on that boat, you know grabby hands are gonna happen right? Right?? OH OHH…" she starts before he grabs her around the waist and retrieves the hammer from his belt before asking her to grab the handle, extending it to the sky he yells "BASES!!!!" - lightning shoots skyward, crackles and a resounding godlike "BASESSS! Bassess….bassesss!" booms through the host…. «Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will scan and download any files available that look useful and/or viable for interpretation of this hosts owners/team. He's assuming it's a HTR assist or otherwise having a Mil-spec background. He'll note the SAN to the sat-uplink for investigation later. ANd then check their tallies. Scanning files before download to prevent wormage and/or databombs." «Plot» Kensai says, "the system is distressingly bare on files - and nothing older than three days old. That's when the system was installed. There is also a list of coordinates - looks like gps data that… oh matches the hits on the cameras you were tracking JUST EARLIER TODAY." «Plot» Gaul says, "The Cameras that the Agent was cleansing or the Sex-Dungeon cameras?" «Plot» Kensai says, "you also find a sort of subscriber list - there are three comms linked to the security network, and one of them is flagged as having no privileges, and none of them are attached a superuser. wherever the decker in charge is, he's not here." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Military Tactics + Task Pool: 3 for "Er? This is an interesting setup, seen it before?": 2 3 3 4 5 5 9 «Plot» Kensai says, "neither! the cameras you were using to track Mister Tokugawa Ariko. They match your tracking records exactly, up to mile high mall - and when that's when the third comm (the one with no privileges) was activated." «Plot» Kensai says, "hmmm. what areas has gaul had experience in?" «Plot» Gaul says, "Anywhere MET2000 is active, Also all German military operational areas; EU primarily." «Plot» Kensai says, "you've brushed it before, especially with MET2000, but it's a call back. i's the sort of tight, minimalistic operational profile that Yamatetsu teams were using when they were shadow-teaming their way into relevancy 40-50 years ago." Victor gestures at himself, waving his hand up and down. "Boldness is sort of part of the package," he deadpans. "Though, honestly, if I'd known who we were talking to I probably wouldn't even have showed up. This shit is way above my pay grade." Finally he finishes the corndog and settles with sucking down his root beer float. He goes quiet and still, studying Kensai's manner with an unusually neutral expression. "Does this have something to do with those two women? If there's anything else you know about what's going on, I'd really appreciate you sharing it with the rest of the group. Or if they've got some kind of leverage on you…" Kensai laughs. "Welcome to the big leagues, my friend," he says, and then colors. "Ah. Only tertiarily. Sakura knows him, Akai… knows -of- him." He shakes his head. "Personal matters we can discuss for another time. Suffice it to say I have been doing work for Elder Brother since I arrived here. He is unlikely to betray us casually, and that is more than I can say of most employers." «Plot» Gaul says, "Alright. Time to keep going. Check our sec tally first." «Plot» Kensai says, "against ALL ODDS, your tally is 0." «Plot» Gaul says, "Heading back to main choke, and then going B host." «Plot» Gaul says, "Though honestly THIS is a chokepoint behind a chokepoint lol." «Plot» Kensai grins. in some ways! «Plot» Kensai says, "door B is unencrypted." «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 Laura in first this time.)": 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 7 22 «Plot» Kensai says, "hold the phone there - as you start to work on it, you discover that you already have access through your account on the chokepoint." «Plot» Kensai says, "you basically find a shell that has no active host inside of it." Victor twists his mouth into a distasteful expression. "Not sure I'm ready for the big leagues," he says with a sigh. "I think that gun he pointed at me was loaded." For a few moments he looks off into the distance, appearing adrift in thought. Slowly he focuses back on the moment and looks at Kensai again. "I'm sure he's got some sense of honor about it, sure. But this is mainly why I want to wrap this gig up and change all my phone numbers so he can't call me again. The real problem is nothing about this job is straightforward. Missing employee, but they can't track him properly? Then he knocks out his own bodyguard to run off? And we still don't know who he met with, do we? *None* of this makes any sense. We're missing something. It makes me itch." He grunts and tugs at his outfit in various places to loosen it up. "Or maybe I just need a shower after all that." «Plot» Gaul says, "Alright. I'll set up some eavesdroppng on the comms to see what chatter is when it comes up. And then analyze the mess I found in D (Sex Dungeon)" «Plot» Gaul says, "Additionally any sort of telemetry on this team via the host to figure out where they're at and if they still have hands on target?" You paged Gaul with 'so you can roll it out as you see fit - you pick up comm chatter right away. 'Roof is clear. The Plutocrat should be here in approximately two hours. How is the package?" 'Cranky. He's figured out we're not who he expected - but I think I quashed his call for help. Any word on our opposition? " "Renraku's been snooping around, but we don't think they're on to us yet." "And shiawase?" "I'm not so sure it was them to begin with, but… they have to know he's been taken, right? When he didn't show up?" "They won't know from who. Tolstoy took care of the cameras at the mall."'. =oh yes. one is in the very building you found the SAN connected to. The other - looks like he's on the roof of that building. «Plot» Kensai says, "oh yes. one is in the very building you found the SAN connected to. The other - looks like he's on the roof of that building." Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Primary target infiltrated and analyzed. Yamatetsu shadow cell active and directly responsible as far as I can tell for the pickup of Target. Secondary interest is Renraku assets infiltrated Smarts pharmacy host and left Data tracking software there for anyone nosy enough to investigate. All files on your activity have been wiped as well as Iotos. My assistant is moving on the Renraku satellite office - as a precaution. » Kensai nods, and an ah-ha light goes on. «There,» he says, looking at Victor but using his comm. «The puzzle, as I see it - our employer plans an extraction. Another team learns about it, moves in first. Renraku wants their prize back - but our target has likely taken pains to minimize how they can find him.» He pauses, and updates Gaul. «The operative present at the pharmacists was eliminated. He was competent but not elite - a stalker, not a fighter. But this guy…» He touches his tongue to his lower lip. «He's valuable. I recognized the name. He's nicknamed Toymaker.» «Plot» Gaul says, "Any accessible cameras or other surveil that I can get eyes ont he situation there? He waiting for pickup?" Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Our contracted target has been located at <GPS Coordinate> currently tracking him on the roof of building - be aware OpFor is still active at coordinates. » «Plot» Kensai says, "the sections of the building he's in seems to be the part that's covered only by ultrasound. You have control of the doors there, too. You have access to some of the cameras in another part —- those are part of the special-times dungeon. Rooftop guy - there might be some cameras nearby on him, but some of them may be on local traffic drones." Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Direct comms chatter intercepted. Pickup of target by Yamatetsu asset in 2 hours by air transport. I have fair tactical control of the building. Advise. » Kensai smiles, just slightly. «We go in. You open the way, and keep the door open, and ground team will handle our end. Escape route will need to be ready to go, but if we do this right - the megas will blame each other, hai?» He looks at Victor, slaps the other man on the shoulder, and finishes his drink. «Let's go get our man.» Victor looks briefly startled when the comm buzzes in his ear, like he'd forgotten he had the thing on. He almost drops his drink. "Motherfu…" Once he recovers he can pay attention to the messages. "Right, so the guy gets a better offer somewhere else. With a name like that I'm guessing he makes fancy weapons?" He shrugs; it hardly matters. "But what keeps bothering me is this other team. That means somebody involved in the first extraction has a *leak* in their security. And we haven't identified where that is yet." He squints. "We're not carrying anything from our employer are we? We should put that briefcase in a cage. Or catapult it into Utah." As the chatter takes a more urgent turn Victor listens closely and waits to see what Kensai says. "If you say so… Just give me a minute to put on my face." Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « I can coordinate with Laura who is in the host. I will join ground team as it looks like an extra tactical asset is useful. Detail pickup coordinates. » "Tokugawa-san makes armor." He stops and looks back over his shoulder. "For the red samurai. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Armor.» to Victor, leading the way out of the shop as he continues to comm. «Tokugawa-san makes armor.» He stops and looks back over his shoulder. «For the red samurai. » The situation: The runners are getting down to the wire. According to Gaul's last message, there will be a helicopter arriving to snag the Toymaker in approximately two hours. Meanwhile, in the van, Ginny has the bodyguard singing like a canary. "He sold me out," he mutters. "He knows how renraku looks upon bodyguards who let their principal get extracted. I'm ruined!" He shakes his head angrily. "I'll tell you what I know. He has a bad heart - too much chashu - and normally he carries a vibro-tanto with him, but he was disarmed when he came to the city. He is also a skilled chemist." He grits his teeth. "And he is one of the production leads on the Red Samurai Armor. They are going to want him back. It is foolish for whoever it is to try to take them! They will earn reprisals! Now I know why his wife and daughter disappeared three months ago - his worry and grief seemed false!" Ginny tenses up inside the van, frowning inside the van, quickly driving down. At least she can do that "We… we aren't killing him." she tries to offer, awkwardly, eyes on the road, knuckles white on her wheel, seeming a bit out of her depth Kensai, too, has dropped the word-bomb about the Toymaker's profession as he and Victor move towards an intrusion point, back around to a back alley where Kensai has parked his car with some gear stashed in the trunk, their planned rendezvous point with Gal. Kensai's car will be parked nearby, but he is planning to extract with the rest of the team to the van so nobody suspects his sweet, sweet ride! «Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul has left his Laura agent in the comms host he discovered. Additionally he has left her some backup in the form of a second Agent as a erm…bodyguard of sorts in case the enemy decker returns. Both will be linked via commcall/battletac to Gaul. If they loose contact orders are to facilitate movement, assistance in building based on camera visual queues and to murder the decker if he shows up. :)" «Plot» Kensai says, "hot steamy decker on decker action?" Victor runs around town in the guise of Ioto, leaving traces all over the place while the Ginny gets the bodyguard to some sort of safety. Upon hearing that the primary target has been located, and the circumstances of his situation, Victor asks for a description of Toymaker's current outfit. There may be some back-and-forth as to why he would ask "What's he wearing?" like some influencer or fashionista. But if he can get the details he'll detour through a clothing shop to snag some adequate knockoffs of the garments, quickly putting them on over his armor. Soon he ditches the Ioto persona (saving the black hair and raking his deflated fauxhawk down the sides of his scalp) and makes the rendezvous with the others. "Anyone got those pictures of the target?" he asks as he starts adjusting his features again from what he remembers from the earlier briefings. «Plot» Kensai says, " :Believes Gaul has multiple pictures of the target." «Plot» Kensai says, " deduct 50 nuyen from victor's payout for quick disguise mats" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 for "renraku search": 1 1 3 3 4 So far, no red spiders have appeared on the matrix, no more tall dark men striding down alleys, not even the roto drone from earlier seem to have reappeared… victor's scheme may have worked. But for how long? Calmly exiting his apartment complex with a small kit bag the halfer Gaul makes his way to the parking garage and his GMC Bulldog, in the back is his "working" gear. In the back compartment he strips to skivies and puts on his working clothes, tinting the front windows as is typical to stop any nosey types. Weapons and otherwise are in a black bag he will load into whatever pickup car snags him. Monitoring the tactical communications Gaul will say calmly, » All biodata on target is being transferred. Tactical layout of the facility and entrance as well. Camera angles are shown, but I have them compromised. 15 minutes from pickup location, driving a black GMC van. Ginny drives over to a nearby garage, around KEnsai and Gaul, seeming very tense "So…. getting the principal." she offers, before turning to the guard "Do… do you have a picture?" she asks with a frown "A better description of your principal?" «Plot» Gaul says, "Kensai: Gaul will have tried to identify the best places to infil the building with least visibility from air and main road/downtown area. Hopefully something like a loading bay or parking area." Kensai's helmet now in place so his identity his concealed, he presses himself against the back wall of the alley as the runners assemble. «You are coming in, yes?» He says to Gaul. «And you?» He turns to Victor. In the van, ioto does in fact have a picture. He will hand ginny his pocsec so she can look. 'The Toymaker' (which is what i'll call him now so i don't have to keep looking up his damn name) is an older japanese man, maybe in his late 50s, with a fringe of grey hair around his wrinkled face, actual glasses on his nose, and a wispy white beard. He wears a suit that -was- tres chic twenty years ago, as well as suspenders, and has a pocsec-holder on said suspenders. «Plot» Kensai says, "you actually have found exactly that. If you follow this alley and take a right, you will find a concealed hidden exit - concealed to the normal eye, maybe, but not to a dorf that owns the building." «Plot» Kensai says, "this alley also runs, the other way down to the back of the parking deck that ken's car is located in. The parent company that owns the target building has paid a lot of attention to detail for discreet customers. Too bad that sword cuts both ways…" Gaul remains in his vehicle until the pickup arrives, head ducked in case there are any nose types about he loads a much larger bulky bag into the pickup vehicle and climbs in. He seems completely calm and alert everything above the balaklava anyway, he nods briskly to all but ignores the Renraku sam. Subvoc » Where are we doing the sitrep on the infil? I have maps to share and tactical layout based on visuals i've collected. <after this the van makes it's way to the site> Gaul is wearing a urban BDU, well used and functional with the familiar Ares helmet, Balaklava over his lower face and Load bearing harness. He carries and alpha, sidearms and an array of items on his person. A datacable is fed into his datajack from a black slingbag on his back. Victor arrives at the meet, briefly winded from jogging this far from his last transfer. As he recovers and straightens up he pulls out a gadget to look at the pictures Gaul sent over. It's enough for him to finish adjusting his face to match the subject, though he takes care to examine the profile shots, different lighting, to get as close a match as he can. He has to shift the coloring of his hair more precisely as well. His height and his build are probably not a match, but with the glasses on he might be convincing enough to sow some confusion. "Shit, almost forgot these," he says as he tugs out his earrings and pockets them. With time left he practices the subjects voice to mimic it, though Victor's Japanese isn't *quite* as skilled as a native's. In the alley the dwarf arcs a brow at the tall japanese man and shrugs, » Would be a shame to wear all this tacti-cool and not do something with it. I can direct tactical better this way. At the arrival of Victor and noticing his transformation into the target Gaul for the first time seems taken back, "New face indeed." he mutters wrly at the curious elf. Ginny looks over "Seems like handy technology." she muses, sighing "We can get past… normally. Can't we?" she just asks. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « from wherever," he says to the dwarf. "I have image link and HUD. Hit me up with the files, and tell us what we're looking at." » Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Multi-floor office complex, multiple ultra-sound and barrier systems in place as well as cameras. Op-For appears to be on the roof waiting for pickup by a Plurocrat at 23:00. I've got a read on their comms and can monitor the situation as we move - tactical is being pushed over to anyone with a data feed attached to this comm. » «Plot» Gaul says, "Kensai can fill in the details on where bad guys are at and various shenanigans as I don't have that :) or how many there are." «OOC» Gaul says, "Or rather I did the work and should know, just don't have the deets." Commink-Victor> Victor grins to the others and takes a slight theatrical bow. "The clothes really sell it," he says using his simulation of the Toymaker's voice. "Once we grab him, we can split up and I can try to lead them away…" With the tactical review coming in he stops to listen carefully. Over the comm he asks, "Do they have all the top floors occupied? Or could we possibly get access to— hang on—" He stops to do some math. "The next floor down from the top? I suppose if there are some balconies on the others, that could work, too."" Commlink-Ginny> Ginny looks over at them, trying to offer a smile "You are thinking climbing? I am afraid I can't really get us airborne, V. So we'd need to take stairs or an elevator…" «Plot» Kensai says, "bad guys are on floor fourteen, accessible by an internal staircase. There's an external staircase, too, but that could be a little too out in the open. They are the -only- company leasing on this floor. Gaul also has access to floor six through eight, but he may not want to open that door. The other floors are not currently out, but seem to belong in multi-story groups. There's also an elevator, but… you know, that could be a trap. There are no balconies, just lots of floor-to ceiling tinted ballistic glass. The build has a total of 22 floors, with the roof being a registered helipad. Currently Gaul knows there is one of your tangos on the roof, and all of one - plus the target - on the fourteenth floor. That floor seems to be made up mostly of long corridors and blind corners, with the target and his minder sitting at the center of some kind of labyrinth." «Plot» Kensai says, "Gaul - your monitoring of the comm system reveals that there might be another server running within, but it's not linked to the trix." «Plot» Kensai says, "oh, gaul mentioned this previously, but as part of the sum up - our opposition seems to be a small task force of either Yamatetsu agents or Yamatetsu-aligned shadowrunners. There are supposedly two on site but they appear to have significant resources at their disposal." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Security Procedures: 2 4 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Security Forces: 2 4 8 «OOC» Gaul says, "Yep that covers my questions. 6-8 are the first server I encountered with dubious material?" «OOC» Kensai says, "yes." «OOC» Gaul says, "Lets unpack that a second, how bad was it and would it be something ethically that needs to be dealt with? ie Minors, Slaves, etc." «OOC» Kensai says, "you also know floors 1-4 are never leased out, they belong to the shell company and seem to be used to deflect attention, not to conduct serious business." «Plot» Gaul says, "And what floor does it appear (if I can tell) the server might be located on? and any indication from chatter what it's for?" «OOC» Kensai says, "from what you determine, it seems mostly consensual… well, sort of. it is metahumans interacting with various programmed characters and kinks - the onsite staff is very limited, as with the other situations at this location, and seems to be mostly a few bored kink programmers." «Plot» Kensai says, "the extra server is on floor 14. can you give me a basic intelligence check as you continue to have difficulty picking up chatter or traffic on it?" «OOC» Gaul says, "Memory related roll or just figuring things out." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Intelligence (to Kensai) for "Intelligence for radio chatter.": 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 10 17 «OOC» Kensai says, "right. nothing illegal - disclaimers everywhere about no under-16 programming permitted." «OOC» Kensai says, "the illegal part probably comes with all the monitoring that's going on." «OOC» Gaul says, "Ah. That's fine. That's paydata :) as long as no one there doing something I need to kill them for." Commlink-Pavonis> Victor insists, "No elevators." It's not negotiable. "So there's eight floors between them and the roof. If the asset isn't on the roof already they'll probably move him via the stairs a few minutes before their ride shows up. *If* that's their protocol, we'll have a window to get them out in the open, block their retreat, and get our guy out. I knew I should've brought some rope… I *always* bring rope. Gah." Gaul pages: So maybe a closed rigger system or whatever it's called? He's written code for a Remote Utility so does it look familiar? Commlink-Ginny> Ginny nods "I can't go and steal a helicopter." she agrees, raising an eyebrow "So, roof…" "Don't think I can get my drones up the stairs can I?" Long distance to Gaul: Kensai nods. Judging from the power usage, it's not hooked to any cameras, but is piggybacking off the commsystem to handle a remote control network. Probably the integrated battletac you were looking for earlier but rigger version. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Hitting them on the way up seems like a plan - unless -they- take the elevator? » «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 for "don't mind me these rolls are meaningless i promise": 1 2 3 4 11 Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « I can cause elevator to have issues. So tactical assault in stairway sounds valid. I'm getting readouts of a closed Rigger system in the building. Battletac protocol for rigging things, so either automated defenses or drones. » «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Security Procedures for "ah-ha! more info!": 3 5 «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Security Systems + Task Pool: 3 for "Assessment.": 1 1 3 4 4 5 Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « yametsu security SOP involves at least two eyes in the sky and a patrolling VTOL to cover VIP air transport. I don't remember them using much in the way of ground-based drones. » Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « This building is a a la carte security setup. Likely could be something integral with whatever they have setup here from contract. » You paged Gaul with 'you're pretty certain that it's a drone setup. it doesn't seem to be flowing the same way it would if it was part of the closed system.'. Gaul pages: Any ability to pinpoint radio signals too/from the tac? Pinpoint endpoints? Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « the eyes in the sky are simply that, and their sensor readouts will inform the battletach. The vector-thrust would be the threat. It will have loadouts to eliminate aerial threats » Gaul pages: Integrated with the Ultrasound system I've already got a handle on. Commlink-Pavonis> Victor sends, « Don't *we* have control of the elevator? If they get in we can just keep them in it, set up whatever response we want, and then deliver them to a floor of our choosing. Seems like a solid option to keep on deck. At most there would be two or three of them in the box with him." He thinks. "Did anyone bring smoke bombs?" » You paged Gaul with 'i was about to make you roll to analyze, but then remembered your security account. no endpoints in the building.'. Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « So. Roof team moves up and eliminates roof asset at same time second team recovers floor 14 asset as they move into stairwell? Then we all beat feet to extraction at bottom floor? I should have elevator access, checking now. Drone endpoints are not in building so can confirm that it is likely aerial. » Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « agreed. I can operate inside or out - prepared for either. Are we nonlethal or lethal? » Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « good idea not to engage on the floor itself. Looks designed to be a shooting gallery for Rusky-one. » Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Non-Lethal would be my suggestion as this is corporate - but Kensai you have better idea of Yametsu. They will of course be fully lethal with us. Less fallout if we go non-lethal. » Commlink-Ginny> Ginny opens and closes her mouth "I am not going lethal." she lets out, biting her lip "NOt even ever firing like that." sshe muses, sighing, seeming a bit lost. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « We're going to have RR breathing down our necks as it is. No need to add Yam - or shadowrunners - to that list, hai? If things get … bad… then I may need to cut. But I'm hoping to avoid that. » Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « I'd suggest quiet as well. Floor 6-8 will have security. As will 1-4. We want to avoid adds. » «Plot» Kensai says, "Gaul - time may be running slim. There's someone knocking on the front door of the host. You can almost see webs being run around it from here." «Plot» Gaul says, "Time till pickup?" «Plot» Kensai says, "83 minutes." Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Looks like either Renraku has found this site or Yametsu is purging my influence. We should move. I will attempt to move up time-table on their extraction, if this does not work we will have to move into floor 14 and do it fast. Renraku could be heading on site - if so I will crash the hosts and take down their CnC. But that will attract some attention. » «Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will utilize the harvested radio chatter to originate what appears to be an authentic orders to these guys that pickup is advanced due to Renraku closing in as well as an unknown threat. He will have Agent J hold off trouble while Laura does her thing with comms." Kensai takes the submachine gone from his hip, ejects a clip, sticks it in his jacket, and puts in another with a blue splat of paint on it. «Quiet, non-lethal. Understood. Are we ready to move?» His voice is mostly calm, but there's a little quaver in it now. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 + Hacking Pool: 8 vs TN 4 (to no one) for "hacker owning the door": 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 7 8 = 9 Successes Gaul talks and as he does he exchanges a magazine with red label for one with a blue and comms to his agents, he looks to each member for their readiness or conflict to his suggestion. Victor just shrugs as he checks on the pistol holstered under the outer layer of his disguise. "I guess we're as ready as we'll ever be," he says with a grin. "Now let's go make some money!" He's excited. Maybe too excited. Ginny gulps, straightening up, not looking comfortable "Want me to keep the engine running or to go up?" she just asks with a frown. Kensai nods and starts to move - relatively quickly for a man his size. «I can possibly interfere with some of their air cover, but summoning kami downtown can lead to trouble.» He finds the concealed door, helpfully marked by Gaul's tech. «Keep the engine running. We may need to leave fast. Can your birds go to the sky stealthily?» «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Stealth for "heading to the backdoor!": 3 3 5 «OOC» Kensai says, "stealth rolls on the way." «Plot» Gaul says, "What shall I roll for Ms. Agent :) for radio shenanigans?" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Stealth for "Sneaking as we go.": 2 4 5 7 «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Stealth: 1 3 4 5 Ginny peers over "If I send them flying, stealth is gone." she offers "They have unsilenced MGs. And the rotors aren't the quietest." she offers «Plot» Kensai says, " pilot + hacking pool v files. commlink utility applies" «Plot» Kensai says, "and yeah you'll need to roll to make sure your agent understands." Commlink-Pavonis> Victor sends, « Umm, what about reserving them to maybe strafe the roof for a distraction? Or discourage their ride from landing? Neither of those seems great… probably if we get a point of needing something like that, it's already pretty bad. » «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 8 (hp) + 8 (programming) (to Kensai) for "Open roll how well does she do this thing?": 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 7 9 «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (pilot) + 8 (hp) (to Kensai) for "Yolo!": 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 14 You paged Gaul with 'you've got access to the comms and you think you can spoof the message! pose it out!'. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « we are downtown. if she strafes the roof the … how do you say… fuzz? will be all over us. Right. Keep the engine running, we will come out fast. If Ren is on the way they may be sending an assault team vehicle too." » «Plot» Kensai says, "vic ken and gaul have reached the entrance - gaul has control of the doors, and they get in." The stairwell is well lit, and very plain. It has the very modern minimalist style going on, muted colors, the light sources almost invisible, and bits of bland commercial art are on the walls. Gaul pages: Quick estimation of tactical situation and how long it will take us, try to get an idea of time involved to get agent to coordinate. «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Military Tactics + Task Pool: 3 for "Some things he's thinking": 2 2 2 4 4 5 11 You paged Gaul with 'well, that entrance to the host is being fucked right now, and aggressively. So they're coming in with intention. We could get up the stairs in five-ten minutes without much trouble, maybe with some wheezing. Their readiness - harder to tell. They might be ready to go right now, but the prisoner might take more time, depending on how he's restrained.'. Commlink-Pavonis> Victor hmms. "Fair point. So, not Plan A. Though if there's another team coming in, we might be able to use them…" In his disguise as the infamous Toymaker he continues prowling with the others, scowling at the 'art' on the walls and keeping his critiques of it to himself. But he has them. Oh, boy. Gaul moves quickly after Kensai but he's still just a dwarf and will never be as fast as the humans and elves, he is however quiet. Over the comms comes a female voice for the first time, bubbly and chipper « OOOO MMMMMMMM GGGGGG I tottttallyyy just spoofed their asses, like I said, "PROTOCOL has changed, Renraku assets are in bound, repeat Renraku assets inbound. Fast mover will pick up your team in one five minutes, repeat one five minutes. Authorization Delta. (deep voice)" AND THEY BOUGHT IT I got a confirm and stuff and man I'm good! Payraise boss?" at the same time the door slides open for the team and they move in. Gaul moves in and secures left while the move to staircase up and then follows. He comms back » "And you call yourself a dumb frame…pfftt…" Ginny drums on her wheel, not even munching, just staring ahead «I really gotta talk to S about some new armaments…» Gaul pages: Jorgumond will man up and eff some stuff up when the arrive. Laura will wipe and crash host before she is crashed. They're also gonna livestream this action and record it for later enjoyment. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « elevator plan is still good. Are you two confident in handling the elevator? I can go distract Roof-Tango.» The quaver is gone. He's on task now, handling stairs like a pro, a familiar weapon in hand… it's not his rifle, but this will do, and his daisho are ready at his waist just in case. » «OOC» Kensai says, "gaul - what tools do you have to slow down the familiar red spider that just gained access to the chokepoint?" «OOC» Gaul says, "Oh. Just a whole heap of ass kicking." «OOC» Gaul says, "Both agents are running AttackD, but Tank has Lock-On and Scanner." «OOC» Kensai says, "sweet. we'll pause that end of things for just a minute while we take care of our meat-space tangos, but technically that (maybe) epic battle is taking place at the same time." «OOC» Kensai says, "ginny - perception test?" «Auto-Judge[]» Ginny (#14136) rolls Intelligence: 1 2 4 4 7 13 Victor winces at the new voice chirping in his ear. It takes him a moment to figure out what's going on, and once he's done that he readies his pistol and moves into position, just around the corner from the elevator where he can hopefully have some cover while getting the drop on any hypothetical enemies. Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Roger that on elevator plan. It will be disabled and we will set intercept at floor 14 stairwell. I'm afraid of letting them get in elevator, if I have to crash the host they'll be stuck and the pickup will be a bust. Raku is on their way. » Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « affirmative. Heading to the roof. Hold the stair with honor, and buy your girlfriend a sake for me. » You paged Ginny with 'air traffic has picked up. The drone air patrols in this area have gotten suspiciously tighter… about 5 more drones than is normal for this part of town.'. Commlink-Ginny> Ginny frowns «Guys. Traffic congestion. drones starting to close in.» she offers «Things might get *ugly*» Victor shrugs and scampers across the floor to the stairs then, scooting toward the middle to be able to spot movement up or down. Commlink-Th0R> Gaul sends, « Gaul looks over at Victor as they puff their way up the stairs and nods, hostile will likely come out first and protect asset. If you've not done this before use the stair pitchback for cover - we'll take them as soon as they start to come up. I'll go above; you below? Confirm? » Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai has a brief, terrifying thought. «Gaul. Where are we? Like… are we ucas/denver? Or is this building Extra-territorial?» «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Small Unit Tactics + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 4 for "Coordinating with the team for bonuses!": 1 3 3 4 4 5 10 = 4 Successes «Plot» Kensai says, "it gets tricky! but while the leasing company for this floor is yam, the company that owns it (probably) isn't a mega, at least not from your research. but who knows what their lawyers could argue… and it's DEF not RR territory. So that might slow down -too- much intensity. For now." Commlink-Pavonis> Victor hmms and nods as he settles into position. "Copy that… We should be ready for the other team to come up all the stairs. If things get wild, you guys get the target out and I'll try to decoy everyone else." The 14th floor door to the stairwell slams open, and a woman wearing urban-camo security armor steps out, dragging an older japanese man along behind her. The man is wearing electro-cuffs and a stun collar. «Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will have Laura also lock down the 6-8 and 1-4 staircase entrances; with overrides in case anyone gets nosey." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Initiative: 2 3 3 «OOC» Gaul laughs «Plot» Kensai says, "that smu roll should get you guys extra combat pool, right?" «Plot» Gaul says, "8+9 (17) + all bonuses from SUT" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 3 for "+12 camo lady": 1 5 10 «OOC» Victor says, "Hilarious." «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Initiative with a result of 9. «Plot» Kensai says, "reaction tests v 2!" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Reaction + 2 (SUT) vs TN 4 for "Go go gadget speed": 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 10 = 4 Successes +Roll 12/4~well this was unexpected «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 4 for "well this was unexpected": 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 8 9 = 10 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "oh and you get a plus 2 dice bonus, victor." «OOC» Kensai says, "gaul your tn should have been 2" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Reaction + 2 (SUT) - 8 vs TN 2 for "Reroll 1 KP1": 3 3 4 = 3 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Reaction + 2: 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 8 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 for "what the fuck? what the hell is victor?": 2 3 3 4 9 «Plot» Kensai says, "lady turns, simple drawing a pistol. Victor is just… confusing, so she shoots at gaul. gaul, you have cover, right?" «Plot» Gaul says, "I believe I have her beat for surprise?" «Plot» Gaul says, "11 for me, 10 for her after my reroll :)" «Plot» Gaul says, "But yes, gaul has cover half I'd say? +4?" «OOC» Kensai says, "oh yes you do!" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 10 vs TN 4 for "drawing that predator": «OOC» Kensai says, "so she's drawing a bead on you, but can't get it even aimed at you before your action." «OOC» Kensai says, "representing her being just a half-step behind you." «Plot» Gaul says, "Ah thank you. Gaul is also in Urban Cammo" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Assault Rifles (Ares Alpha) + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 6 for "3rd Burst, RC4, +2 Cover, +2 Urban Camo, -2 SL": 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 10 11 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Assault Rifles (Ares Alpha) + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 8 for "3rd Burst, +2 recoil, +2 Cover, +2 Urban Camo, -2 SL": 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 7 8 = 1 Success «Plot» Gaul says, "Rebound Rounds so 11S on both." «Plot» Kensai says, "medium security armor w/ helmet provides 7 ballistic. no cp available for the test." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) uses 6 of item 1: Rebound Ammo (AR) from Ammo-AR (#13913). «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 + Karma Pool: 2 vs TN 4 for "well this is a bad day. soaking 11s.": 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 + Karma Pool: 2 vs TN 4 for "well this is a bad day. soaking 11s. kp 2/?": 1 1 3 3 4 4 9 = 3 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 + Karma Pool: 3 vs TN 4 for "well this is a bad day. soaking 11s. kp 4/?": 1 2 2 2 2 3 7 8 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 + Karma Pool: 3 - 3 vs TN 4 for "well this is a bad day. soaking 11s. kp 4/?": 1 2 2 5 10 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 + Karma Pool: 3 - 5 vs TN 4 for "well this is a bad day. soaking 11s. kp 7/?": 1 2 5 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 4 for "round 2": 1 2 5 5 7 = 3 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 - 3 vs TN 4 for "round 2 kp 10/10": 3 4 = 1 Success «OOC» Kensai says, "however it looks like she takes an M on the second burst" «Plot» Gaul says, "Yep, and my precious rebounds 6 more off to valhalla" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 5 for "knockdown": 1 2 2 4 4 = 0 Successes Victor is more panicked than even the guard at the situation. He's clearly not used to this sort of thing. But when he gathers his wits he barks out a command at her: "Throw your gun!" He's just the persuasive sort of person some people like to listen to, even when his advice is terrible. «Auto-Judge[]» Victor (#14210) rolls Charisma: 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 «OOC» Victor squints. "Supposed to be an opposed vs target's willpower to make them comply. Commanding Voice." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 for "what. the. heck?": 3 4 4 4 9 Gaul is just a fraction of a second slower than the woman in Security armor as she barges into the hallway but having been readied for just this thing his position allows him to go unnoticed for that crucial second as she spots Victor and makes the wrong decision. The suppressed Ares barks, kicking slightly upward as rounds impact her chest armor in a three shot center patter - but do not penetrate. A OOOPHHH from her as she falls back on her butt, pistol waving. From his partially exposed position the halfer lines up for a second go. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 for "throwing the gun": 1 3 4 9 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 10 vs TN 4 for "drawing the grenade": 2 3 3 3 3 5 5 8 9 10 = 5 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "that should actually be tn 7, but she gets it." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 4 + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 7 for "throwing grenade, with wound mods and confusion": 1 2 3 5 5 8 = 1 Success «OOC» Victor says, "How many actions does she normally get?" «OOC» Kensai says, "simple action: throw the gun. quickdrawing the grenade and throwing it was another simple action. and then she's out of actions." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 1 for "scatter": 3 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 1 for "scatter direction": 4 The woman hits the ground, her insides all higgly piggly from the assault rifle at close range- her armor absorbed most of it, but not enough. She starts to rise to a knee, bringing her gun to bear, but even as she draws a bead on Gaul's head suddenly she's hurling her gun. She stares at her hand, bewildered, but that's not enough to slow her down. She's too seasoned to let a bit of weird stop her. Now there's a rectangle in her hands, and she's throwing it, and the stair erupt in brilliant strobe lights. Meanwhile… Kensai reaches the top of the stairs, and with a lowered shoulder he charges through the utility door to stand on the helipad. The other figure up there, a young man in security armor perched on the edge of the roof, is half-ready, and neither gets the drop… just a test of speed, as the watcher's rifle comes to bear against Kensai and his submachine gun… «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Initiative with a result of 16. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 2 for "+8, covert ops specialist": 1 5 «Plot» Kensai says, "Kensai 16, COS 14" «Plot» Kensai says, "distance 20m. no cover. the glare of stepping into the sunlight taken care of by ken's flare comp. medium range for kensai. he'll take an aim action and use a three-round burst." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Submachine Guns + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 2 for "medium range= 5, -1 aim, +3 recoil, -3 recoil, -2 smartlink.base damage is 7s (9s - 2 power for gel.), tn 5 to dodge": 1 2 5 8 8 9 = 5 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Combat Pool: 8 vs TN 5 for "balls!": 1 2 3 3 5 8 9 10 = 4 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Combat Pool: 8 - 4 vs TN 5 for "balls! kp 1/?": 1 4 4 5 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Combat Pool: 8 - 5 vs TN 5 for "balls! kp 3/?": 3 4 5 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 2 for "rifle shot, cp expended. short range, smartlink.": 1 1 5 5 10 = 3 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 - 3 vs TN 2 for "rifle shot, cp expended. short range, smartlink. kp 4/?": 3 3 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Combat Pool: 5 + Karma Pool: 1 vs TN 4 for "oh shit that's a sniper rifle": 1 2 2 3 4 11 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Combat Pool: 5 + Karma Pool: 1 - 2 vs TN 4 for "oh shit that's a sniper rifle kp 7/14": 1 1 1 3 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Combat Pool: 5 + Karma Pool: 1 - 2 vs TN 4 for "oh shit that's a sniper rifle kp 9/14": 2 2 3 14 = 1 Success «OOC» Kensai says, "3 successes. this is going to be unpleasant." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) has the Armor Rating Ballistic with the value '0 (6)'. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Body vs TN 4 for "colt equalizer, base damage 10m.": 2 3 3 4 4 9 = 3 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Body - 3 vs TN 4 for "colt equalizer, base damage 10m. kp 10/14": 1 1 4 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Submachine Guns vs TN 4 for "same as before, +2 for wounds.": 1 3 3 10 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 2 for "guy has 7 impact armor from medium corpsec, but needs 6 successes.": 1 3 3 4 5 = 4 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 7 for "resisting knockdown": 1 1 1 3 5 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 1 for "luck": 23 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 7: 2 3 3 4 4 = 0 Successes The gunfire on the roof is fast and furious. Kensai is a hair faster, his suppressed gun spitting gel-capped rounds as soon as the beretta's stock is braced against his shoulder. His opponent is quick, dodging hard to the right, bringing his rifle around with alarming speed - he aims and fires, and his aim is better. Kensai is spun around from the bullet as it rips through his flesh… but he keeps his feet and strafes right, his shock-trooper chip helping him maintain balance as he moves hard and fast - and he fires again. His opponent has no juice left to dodge, and despite kensai's wounds his aim is on target. Three rounds center mass, and his opponent is staggering back, flailing, losing his feet, and… …pitching off the side of the building. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Ah. I… miscalculated.» His voice is taut and full of pain. «Tango down. Long, long… long way down.» » The other two might even see the guard plummeting down outside the stairwell's window. Victor grunts into the comm channel. "Really, dude?" he says with a sigh. "Well… maybe we can make it look like the Rennies did it on our way out…" Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « I didn't tell him to dodge that way! He shot me first! » Commlink-Pavonis> Victor sends, « I don't think they're gonna buy self-defense as an excuse. Maybe, uh, maybe he survived? » «Plot» Kensai says, " looks like a 70 meter fall." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 32 for "saving against 35d physical damage, w/ half impact armor.": 1 3 3 7 8 = 0 Successes There is a wilhelm scream as the sniper goes whizzing by. Decker Interlude X «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 8 for "access": 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 10 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 10: 1 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 = 0 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "right, there's the door breach. with your security account, you can see it coming in. if i read this right, he won't see you until you attack or something, right? unless he finds you." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (Sensors) for "keeping an eye out. No utilities allowed on this.": 1 2 3 4 4 5 5 8 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 for "passive scan: sensors/8": 1 1 3 3 4 20 The spider has made its way through the door, its compound eyes looking everywhere, trying to learn the lay of the land… and then it sees the enormous world serpent and it freezes, wondering at this strange new creature. It was… unexpected. The World Serpent for its part simply regards the puny spider with burning eyes, tongue flickers as if testing the air or perhaps the data-trail of this entity. It makes no move towards the spider, simply observes. «Plot» Gaul says, "Jorg is going to be doing Block System operation on this thing. It works, but successes matter so it's going to be a hard TN since I do not have a Crash utility on this agent." «Plot» Kensai says, "meanwhile, spider is going to start off with an analyze icon." «OOC» Gaul says, "alright, TN 15 for my part." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 9 (pilot) + 9 (hp) vs TN 15 for "It moves this way and that.": 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 8 10 = 0 Successes «OOC» Gaul says, "The operation does not incur tally (the others does however)" «OOC» Gaul says, "FOr agent it's the Analyze rating + it's Sensors." «OOC» Gaul says, "Control test." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 12 vs TN 3: 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 10 11 11 = 7 Successes «Plot» Gaul says, "It knows it's an Agent." «Plot» Gaul says, "A very high res agent." «Plot» Kensai says, "and now he wants all its juicy secrets!" «Plot» Gaul says, "Then Scan Icon time! :)" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 9 vs TN 10: 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 8 = 0 Successes «Plot» Kensai says, "that wasn't the scan icon." «Plot» Gaul says, "Rog. Scan test TN is 8 - Scanner Utility (if he has one)" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 vs TN 2 for "-6 sensor utility": 1 1 3 4 5 5 5 11 = 6 Successes «Plot» Gaul says, "6 items!" «OOC» Gaul says, "p101 matrx :)" «Plot» Kensai says, "MPCP rating, the 4 persona progam ratings, and your mxp address." «Plot» Gaul says, "MPCP 10, R9, B10, E0, M2, S8, A satellite hub for News Net." «Plot» Gaul says, "And at THAT point Jorm has had enough and attacks." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 2 for "+10": 1 4 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 3 for "+10": 1 2 2 The serpent tolerates the spiders crawlings and pokings about it's great form - eyes pivote and scan the scales - a tentative prod of a foot. Data flows and at that some prime directive is triggered and serpent uncoils and strikes. «OOC» Gaul says, "No finesse in this he's doing a pair of simple actions, ATTACK" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 9 (pilot) + 4 (hp) vs TN 2 for "AttackD R6, Targetting -2TN. Attack one.": 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 7 = 9 Successes «Plot» Gaul says, "Now. The nasty happens. If he has a shield he can make a block it's Rating vs the Rating of the attack to nullify successes." «OOC» Gaul says, "Shield utility." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 vs TN 6 for "shieldddddd! nooo!": 3 4 5 5 5 17 = 1 Success «OOC» Kensai says, "it's a utility, so does he get kp? not sure about programs." «OOC» Gaul says, "Agents do not get KP but if it's a decker yes :)" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 - 1 vs TN 6 for "shieldddddd! nooo! kp 1/?": 1 3 4 5 10 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 - 2 vs TN 6 for "shieldddddd! nooo! kp 3/?": 1 2 4 5 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 - 2 vs TN 6 for "shieldddddd! nooo! kp 6/?": 3 4 5 5 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6 - 2 vs TN 6 for "shieldddddd! nooo! kp 10/?": 1 3 5 7 = 1 Success The serpent tolerates the spiders crawlers and pokings about it's great form - eyes pivot and scan the scales - a tentative prod of a foot. Data flows and at that some prime directive is triggered and serpent uncoils and strikes. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 vs TN 3 for "6 - armor utility": 1 1 2 3 4 4 7 11 = 5 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "what's the damage code?" «Plot» Gaul says, "Damage code of D." «OOC» Kensai says, "oof. so with a total of 5 successes, would that make it M, is it D before you stage up?" «OOC» Gaul says, "Correct Base damage is D. So he'll need 3 more successes to be at S" «OOC» Gaul says, "Since I'm currently sitting at 6 successes (after his shield test)" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 - 5 vs TN 3 for "6 - armor utility kp 11/?": 2 2 5 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 - 6 vs TN 3 for "6 - armor utility kp 13/?": 1 5 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 1 for "just how up the ladder is this guy": 9 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 9 for "resisting 9d Dumpshock": 4 4 4 5 5 = 0 Successes «Stats System» Invalid roll: Cannot find stat matching "5/9 kp 14/?". «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 9 for "resisting 9d Dumpshock kp 14/?": 1 2 3 4 15 = 1 Success «OOC» Gaul says, "Yep. the Agent has no idea or care, it was following it's programming. It reports back though that icon crashed - unsure of type." «OOC» Kensai says, "pose crushing it in your world-consuming coils." The gloomy street lights flicker as the serpent uncoils, it's pitch scales glistening in the dim light as the diamond shaped head rears high into the moonlight sky jaws agape and tongue flickering for taste. Azure blue eyes flare and lend a hue to the jagged white teeth that line it's maw - a staticed roar that shakes the windows and rattle the cobblestones as it deepens to almost sub-sonic, the intricate programming of this agent altering the surrounding code space of the host to operate. The spider, now noticing the threat retreats and tries to put some space between itself and the colossus - but there is no room, none at all as the head descends and the jaws close in a carapace shattering crunch. Juices and vital fluids spurt between the teeth - bytes flood away - a garbled scream of pain and the icon is no more. Jormungandr, the world serpent archs upward throat flexes as the prey is swallowed whole. The system starts to stir, whether in response to Jormugdr's efforts, or the crashing spider, or anything it did along the way… a sudden storm shakes the alley, and something EMERGES out of the sudden fog. It's enormous, beyond reckoning. Large enough to block out the moon in the dimly-lit alley of the chokepoint. Rain comes with it, and rolling, hungry thunder, countless toothed tentacles dangling from its not-face like great cthulu… In the monitoring host, Laura busily routes and runs overwatch for the team on the ground. The perky little icon bounces around the host and chatters as she tidies up data or dumps files, "OHh ewww yuck, don't need that! Oh, that's nifty! GAUULYYY Jorm just REKT something…you gots to see the vid!" «Plot» Kensai says, "queue the entrance of the sysadmin." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (Sensor) for "Jorm to notice the new icon.": 1 1 2 2 2 2 4 5 «OOC» Kensai says, "mask+sleaze rating on jorm?" «OOC» Gaul says, "8" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 10 vs TN 8: 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 7 10 = 1 Success «Plot» Gaul says, "He will notice the icon." Great Cthulu's head swivels back and forth, his six hundred and sixty six eyes all casting shafts of golden light as they sweep the narrow corridor, and his gaze settles on the world-serpent. «Plot» Gaul says, "Serpent will switch to Bod mode as soon as he notices the threat level." «OOC» Gaul says, "Actually NO. He will SCAN icon." «Plot» Gaul says, "TN is just the value of his Masking then." «Plot» Gaul says, "Minus my Scanner utility." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 9 (pilot) for "Scanning new icon. TN - 6 (Scanner)": 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 8 «OOC» Kensai says, "his masking is 9, so… 3. you got lots." «OOC» Gaul says, "His TN is 2" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 + Hacking Pool: 2 vs TN 2: 1 1 1 1 3 3 4 5 5 5 = 6 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "what do you want to know?" «Plot» Gaul says, "I'm getting the following then MXP, MPCP, All his persona levels, Highest 2 programs he's running." «Plot» Gaul says, "Yep, 6 is plenty. What's he snooping?" «Plot» Kensai says, "mxp is… the address of the building you're in. MPCP is 12. He's currently at 9/9/9/9. Biggest Programs are Track 11 and Hog 10." «Plot» Gaul says, "MXP is the MSP that we rode in on for this satellite. So nothing usable for tracing, he'll know I came in on a Satellite. MPCP 10, B15, E0, M1, S4" «OOC» Kensai says, "okay. so he knows you have security access." «Plot» Gaul says, "At this point I suspect that Laura is crashing the host/ starting it? «OOC» Kensai says, "she's in the Yamatetsu host, right?" «OOC» Gaul says, "Indeed." «Plot» Gaul says, "Actually - Gaul might try something sneaky here. He's going to com Jorm to provide a Dump Log to the Sysadmin of the previous attacker." «Plot» Gaul says, "Aye, p34 of Matrix details it. Basically you can get the Satellite we jumped in on. But no pinpointing physical." «OOC» Kensai says, "right. i found what i was looking for anyway. simple track utility would be best." «OOC» Kensai says, "but his first step is going to simply be to try to invalidate you." «Plot» Gaul says, "So taking orders from Gaul. Jorm will indeed highlight the Dump Log file - and push details of the fight." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 9 (pilot) for "Inter-icon comm?": 1 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 «OOC» Gaul says, "Yep. How would you like me to do it? Is this a system command or?" «OOC» Kensai says, "you're in the midst of being invalidated, so in this case a dump log test is most appropriate, i think." «OOC» Kensai says, "in effect, it might just bring the log to the SU's attention." «OOC» Gaul says, "Fair enough! Lets yolo this." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 9 (pilot) + 9 (hp) vs TN 15 for "Here….here is an egg.": 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 7 8 10 11 15 = 1 Success «OOC» Kensai says, "it's a superuser privilege so it's mostly - SHOOM! you're invalid! Now you're an intruder… lets boot up some IC?" The Serpent coils, pulsates and then with a retching cough - ejects a partially digested lump of spider onto the street. Steam rises from its entrails and data spills all over the dusty cobblestones…rather fitting for the iconography here. Dread Cthulu's gaze is penetrating, unraveling the secrets of your soul… the eyes brighten, then, and he roars, the sound like ten thousand nails drawn across ten thousand blackboards mingled with the death-cry of maddened goats. Access rights are stripped away like flesh flensed off of a soul, and then… he stops, his gaze shifting down to the spider-egg and its corpse, and now he's pulling every inch of data he can out of there. Meanwhile, the fog is growing, and the beating of bat-wings can be heard as repulsive minions wake to life. The serpent takes the opportunity to follow it's orders and slithers backwards, down the street and through one of the doors - the one his companion is now in. «Plot» Gaul says, "So auto check to log on to the Yamatetsu host - beating feet." «Plot» Gaul says, "As his passcode for that host is still valid." «Plot» Kensai thumbs up! «Plot» Kensai says, "presumably, he can see where you go, but you have him distracted for a minute…" «Plot» Gaul says, "Both agents will dump logs in that host, pull what data they need and crash it as per orders. As I think we were exiting or close to it now. Yep. He knows I accessed the SAN." «Plot» Kensai says, "especially as he is now making preparations for future renraku attacks." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 8 for "hmmm": 1 3 4 5 5 7 10 15 «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls 8 (Pilot) + 8 (HP) vs TN 9 for "Crash Test! 15 - 6 for Validate utility. DF15 (+1HP, +6 Sneak, Base 8)": 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 7 8 9 17 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 11 vs TN 15 for "security": 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 8 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 6: 1 1 5 9 9 11 In the Yametsu host the glittered up lass is sitting on yucky, smooshy log, chin in her hand looking INCREDIBLY bored, she's already dumped all the files, picked through all the neat stuff, bought flowers for herself 10 times and done 745 circles around the swamp. She gets a ping from the comm, it's what she was hoping for! With a little squeal she hops off the log and prances over to a murky pool and then fishes around in her pocket book for something - oohp! there it is! Out comes a Therma Detonator - bedazzled to the MAX! she presses a button - drops it into the water and turns on a high heel. At that very instant the Serpent pokes it's head through a tree trunk, clasped hands and another squeal, "JORMS!!!! Time to go buddy…c'mon…lessgo…" she coaxes the snake into another murky pool and they both dive in… As the shutdown sequence begins, the lights start to dim, and icy frost starts to spread over everything… the killing ice, the crawling ice, the sort of fimbulwinter that comes not from the hopeful and sunny vikings but the depths of siberia, the true end of all things, the devouring cold. End decker interlude x «Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul spends his complex action communicating via comms. He's required to as per SUT - still relaying messages for the team." «Plot» Gaul says, "He shall use a free action to speak though." Gaul realigns his weapon but habit is much stronger and this is what he was trained to do, 20 years worth of it. » Can't be helped, contact made in hallway. Victor continue doing whatever it is you're doing. Continuing to engage. Bursts over the comms. Immediately he says loudly, "Stand down. I'm non-lethal but that can change." targeting reticle of the smartgun hovering over her breast in his Image Link. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5: 1 8 11 14 14 The womans is rolling on the ground, her eyes closed, relying on pure enhanced memory as she comes to a knee and grabs a throwing knife from her back… but she stops before she draws, her hand locked on the hilt. Her voice is mechanical and hard and russian as it filters through her helmet, as she considers her options. "You have me at disadvantage." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Electronics + Task Pool: 3 - 1 for "What model are those interesting restraints.": 2 2 4 5 15 16 «OOC» Kensai says, "SOTA. 2084 editions, KE-exclusive. Comm-code activated for both restraint and release." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 for "eyes in the sky": 1 2 3 4 15 Gaul says calmly over the taccom, » Second target has stood down. Kensai get down here we're leaving. « incredibly calmly he addresses Victor, » Victor, I'm going to walk forward covering her. You will remove her harness and utility belt. The restrains on our target can be released by by a comcode, as well as the neckband. Please…ask her if she will give it to you as you did the pistol if she refuses me. You will restrain her arms behind her back and place the necklace on her.« In Russian, "Renraku is on it's way. Commcodes for the restraints please and I won't leave you unconscious." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Russian: 1 5 5 5 She takes a step back, releasing the knife, but keeping balanced on the balls of her feet. She shakes her head, her camo glaring and strobing in the flashing light of the flashpak. "I will release the codes to you," she replies in russian. "But I will not be restrained. You go your way, I go mine. Da? And I never saw who took him from me." Victor winces at the explosion of lights, averting his gaze reflexively. He recovers enough, blinking his eyes clear, to see the guard situation under control for now. He moves to secure her thrown gun for himself, then approaches the target slowly while keeping his pistol aimed at the guard. He aims his speaking toward the prisoner, though, speaking to him in Japanese. "Konnichiwa! We're your rescue. Please stay calm and come with us. We might need a moment to get those restraints off." As in, it's not something he'll be able to do. As instructed he starts moving cautiously to start stripping the guard's gear while waiting for her to comply. "If it'll help your situation with your employers, we could always put a few rounds in your legs to make it look convincing," he suggests helpfully. "Codes first, then you can worry about helping yourself. I figure you've got about five seconds to decide one way or another." Gaul takes perhaps a millisecond to decide then nods briskly the lights dancing but not seeming to bother him terribly or his aim, "Done. Do it. You will give a 60 count before moving after we are out of sight. If I see you before our exit then it will not end well for you. We have the building and cameras exploited. I will know if you turn stupid. Please comply." in brisk perfect russian. His rifle stays steady on the woman. Over comms » Kensai. Hostile is standing down and we will not interfere with her exfil if she abides. Target is being released. Ginny. Sitrep. « Kensai watches from the roof, stunned at what he's seen, then whirls towards the door. Even as he does, one of the roto drones in the sky locates him, and in the distance, a drone the size of a motorcycle banks around, preparing for an approach. Down below, she weaves back away and around from victor, moving evasively to try to keep his hands off of her, but aikido-style graceful moves… but as then Gaul agrees, and anyone needs to respond aggressively she takes a large step back from him. "Agreed." She says, and then mentally flicks a switch to send a tight-beam communication to Gaul - if he chooses to let his device accept it. It seems like a data packet. «Plot» Gaul says, "He will." «Plot» Kensai says, "in the 'trix, laura can see the communication - it looks like a passcode for a user account on the network, with special flagged permissions." «Plot» Kensai says, "ie exactly what you were asked for." » Hey um…G…um… Gauly she says rather importantly. Looks like passcode and stuff so…safe. I'm kinda bu…busy though. You should SEE Jorrggyy though he is kickin' hoop! « comes through the comms. Gaul just nods as the tight beam burst hits his equipment and he accesses it. Relays it's contents to Victor. «Plot» Kensai says, "for the sake of drama - as 'jorgy' does battle, ANOTHER DANCER ENTERS THE FRAY.. " Gaul responds » You recording? Yes? « a scoffy reply, » "Totes. Like…OHHHH damn." «Plot» Kensai says, "a superuser account has logged onto the chokepoint." Victor chooses not to push the guard about dropping her other gear yet, but takes a step back and levels his pistol at the guard again with one hand while he pulls out a widget to examine these codes before trying to send them at the restraints. He's watching them to unlock? A green light? Or, just as likely, these were duress codes that make the things blow up. It's been that kind of day. …It's enormous, beyond reckoning. Large enough to block out the moon in the dimly-lit alley of the chokepoint. Rain comes with it, and rolling, hungry thunder, countless toothed tentacles dangling from its not-face like great cthulhu… «Trix Side» The World Serpent…literally straight from Nordic myth rises from the grid of the Host and with a distorting screech darts forward - it's Security credentials good enough in this place. Titanic beast lock in battle - meanwhile on the sidelines a well dressed gal bedecked in fashionably amazing clothes and ample glitter dances about the host humming to herself. Interesting, the super user doesn't even stop to battle the titanic beast, reaching with more tentacles to grasp the very spider that the world-serpent has been fighting… As soon as he has the codes, victor has only to place his hands on the cuffs for him to get an questioning message - and then the locks go green, and he can remove the restraints. "Oh thank you," the man says, full of gratitude. "Arrigato! Arrigato!" The woman, still trying to keep out of reach: "There." She says. "I even call off the drone strike on your friend on the roof." Kensai's probably under cover already, but the threat of their drones going away helps, right? "I give you one-hundred and twenty seconds - your man can allow my partner to reply to calms after then, da?" Gaul watches the interaction between Victor and the man before switching blue eyes to the woman. "Appreciated. More than fair. Da" without pause to the status of her partner. He continues to watch her with his rifle up, no sense being silly says his wetware, » Kensai. Your ETA?« he says calmly through comms. The spider, at this point, is bigger than shelob - it's Ungoliant, the mother of spiders, Tsuchigumo the spider-oni, lilith the mother of monsters, all rolled into one, with at once eight legs and thousand of legs, eyes as red as mars and black as empty space… Commlink-Pavonis> Victor sends, « Victor looks relieved (and maybe a little surprised) the codes were legit, but he makes quick work of clearing the restraints off the guy before he pockets them. They might be worth something. And if they've got trackers in them, they'll be useful in decoying folks away from their target. "Restraints off, we're ready to move. You guys can hang out and keep playing footsie with these rentagoons, but I'm gonna try to get our man moving." He waves the Toymaker along while he backs away from the guard, remaining cautious to escort their target down the stairs. "Oh, should I put a few rounds from her gun into the guy you pushed off— the guy who fell off the roof?" he wonders. » » OHHHHH MMMMM GGEEEE you're gonna love this! We gota post this. Like…the code is pretty good and I guess maybe…I dunno some sort of octopus monster thingy…OUCH ohh that prob hurt. Hey…oh starting the crash timer kay? « comes the shrill girlly voice over comms yet again. Man that is getting annoying. Commlink-Samurai V> Kensai sends, « Coming downstairs now» and even as he said it, his heavy feet are coming down the stairs in giant leaps. Outside, sirens are beginning, responding to the patrolling police drones having a spotted some sort of gunman falling from the roof of an entirely unremarkable and often unnoticed office building… » Commlink-Th0R> Gaul comms » Victor…I believe we shall be leaving together. I hear Kensai now. « he waits for Kensai to bolt past and then follows, offer just a subtle salute to the Russian, "Das vedany" as he heads downward. «Plot» Kensai says, "victor now has a nickel-barreled Ares Pred III with custom black-pearl grips with a top-mounted ultrasound (emitter) sight and loaded with 15 rounds of firepower." Kensai is sure as hell taking the same door he came in. He checks to make sure his comrades are behind him, whirling to cover their escape with his beretta. «All in one piece?» He asks as the red is slowly spreading across his armored jacket. Gaul for his part continues to descend tactically but fast - watching for Olga - but not really expecting her to follow. » Yes. How critical are you? « he comms and pauses to send another one to Laura » Crash it babe. « He exits and hoofs it to the exfil vehicle. Once the band is back together and there's proper firepower to move with, Victor tries to rush their target along faster to the vehicle. "I think we're all fine? Just had to stop and chat with one guard. She gave me a fancy new gun!" He brandishes it for a moment along with a grin. "And our asset seems alright. We can look him over once we get moving." He squints. "Did you get hit?" Kensai shakes his head. "Just got winged me. Guy was waiting for me. Subsonic sniper rifle. I didn't dive fast enough. You know how it goes." His voice is steel wheezing. "Should have some time before i am too saturated with blood not to drip. It will be fine." «Plot» Kensai says, "Linda crashes the system - probably all of about 5 minutes before the decker that belongs to tries to crash it, too. :D" Gaul sets his rifle aside as soon as the group is in the van, disconnects a pouch from his rear and spins the emblazoned first aid pouch around to face Kensai as the van hurtles off, "When we slow down…I'll deal with that." he nods calmly at the seeping wound. «Plot» Gaul says, "Yep. I'm here for a while. Lets do it." Victor can't quite hide his concern, but he puts it aside for now to focus on getting their payday into the vehicle and buckled in. No doubt the guy is freaked out by everything, especially being helped by someone wearing his own face and outfit, but Victor just smiles reassuringly. "Once we get some distance from ground zero I can jump out and give them the runaround again," he says. "Buy a bus ticket to Reno or something, really send them off on a chase." With the 'hard part' over he smiles around at everyone. "That was fun!" <Plot» Kensai says, "Ginny - you are in the driver's seat of your vehicle. You know the area is buzzing with police drones, and you think some others, too. You are in the downtown area, but on a (Relatively) backstreet." «Plot» Ginny says, " :hmmms "Downtown doesn't really have backstreets, so I imagine my best bet is trying to high-tail it for the warrens?"" «Plot» Kensai says, "right. you're mostly in a smaller street that connects one of the bigger boulevards to another. Are you 'driving casually' or are you burning rubber?" «Plot» Ginny says, " Hm. Casually. I have chameleon paint and can switch transponders." «Plot» Kensai says, "sweet. Pose your action as you roll out onto one of the bigger roads, along with what your van looks like!" Victor is still wearing the asset's face and skin tone, and a cheaper replica of his outfit. His hair is 'dyed' black and raked down to a floppy do, maybe chaotic and disheveled enough to pass for someone who's been held against their will for a while. After all that excitement he's in no hurry to spend the next couple of hours solo-running around town *again* just yet. He watches Gaul prepare the first aid and settles back, going quiet and perhaps mildly traumatized from the whole crazy situation. Newbs, amirite? Ginny isn't stupid. Blue Van. No decals or anything. No. Just a blue, asian Van casually rolling out onto the boulevard. Nothing to look for here "Hopefully they aren't on too high alert." she offers. "White would have been too obvious…" As the van pulls out casually onto the street Gaul cranes his neck and looks through his sides windows, trying to spot threats or otherwise - he looks behind them as well; his brain realizing Ginny likely has Sensors on this ride but old habits are hard to break. After the first pass of scans he looks back at Kensai and then down at the wounds still seeping, "If you feel light headed or cold, if you start to sweat or otherwise creep into shock you tell me this. I will immediately deal with the wounds." he says briskly and clinically. «OOC» Kensai says, "do me a favor and roll a stealth roll, too? for 'acting natural.'" «Auto-Judge[]» Ginny (#14136) rolls Stealth: 2 2 3 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 5 for "ares inquisitors. sig of 2, +2 for tight terrain, +1 for urban setting.": 2 3 3 10 11 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[]» Ginny (#14136) rolls Stealth + 2 for "Reroll for 1KP, and 2 Extra": 1 2 2 5 7 «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 for "dice of random": 1 2 2 2 4 A drone buzzes by overhead, swooping low, drinking in all the information it can on the street… and then it moves on. At this point, the target blinks, and the elderly man looks around. "My transponder," he says, worriedly. "If Renraku comes in, they will active my transponder! It needs to be jammed!" Overhead, a Renraku-Red VTOL Drone rockets by overhead. The rotodrone that was investigating the van starts to rise higher in the sky, the machine gun hanging from its slung position slowly tracking up. Kensai nods to Gaul, and pulls off his helmet. He's not very pale, but he's clearly lost some blood. "I won't say I am fine," he says. "But i do not feel… endangered. I have been hurt much worse in a training accident." He looks at the toymaker, sizing him up. "You do not look bad, for having been in captivity. I am guessing things did not go to plan, hai?" Gaul looks severely annoyed at either himself or the mark as he mentioned the tracker, "Foolish for us to neglect that, assumptions were made." he looks at Kensai, "I am not carrying a Jammer, it's weighty. Ginny, ECM on this vehicle or Jammer?" he looks at the mark again, "Where is the device located?" Ginny blinks, looking over "Should I speed up?" she just asks, looking back suddenly, gulping, but deciding not to barrel *just* yet. She might get away… where is the next alleyway? «OOC» Kensai says, "driving test! on-road handling, +1 tn for restricted terrain… +3 if you duck into another alley. it will be harder to hurry, but harder for sensors to spot." «Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will engage his scanner and monitor radio traffic and back and forth. Potentially try to locate the radio freq of whatever this transponder is using." The man looks helplessly at Gaul, then reaches up to touch the datajack on the side of his head. "Implant," he says. "Connected to my headware memory." Kensai swears again. "Only option," he says. "Go where they will not follow, or where we can hide among other signals…" «Plot» Kensai says, "roll electronics!" «Plot» Kensai says, "+ half the rating of your scanner" «OOC» Ginny says, "So, +1 +3 -2 for improved suspension equals +2?" «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Electronics + Task Pool: 3 + 3 (scanner): 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 8 8 23 «Plot» Kensai says, "Gaul - you find it on the first try. It's just a beep-beep-beep, which you can pick up as constantly-updating gps coordinates." «OOC» Kensai says, "re: ginny - also yes." «Auto-Judge[]» Ginny (#14136) rolls Car vs TN 6 for "+1 for rough +3 for tight alley -2 for improved suspension": 2 3 3 5 5 = 0 Successes Kensai also manages a look behind them. "How long do you think before the russian girl discovers her partner is dead, and comes for us? Can they radio in backup?" «Auto-Judge[]» Ginny (#14136) rolls Car vs TN 6 for "+1 for rough +3 for tight alley -2 for improved suspension, Reroll for 1KP": 1 2 4 4 9 = 1 Success «OOC» Kensai says, "if you're rigger-in control, you get -rating in tn AND can use control pool dice." Victor looks up from his reverie but still looks a bit dazed or rattled now that the first rush of adrenaline is wearing off. "Could we… find another van to clone? Maybe hide under an overpass and then split up…" He bites on his lip while pondering a series of impractical ideas. "At least if you can get the tracker out of him, I can take it and lead them somewhere else," he adds. «OOC» Gaul says, "Rating x2 to TN mod :) if rigging" «OOC» Ginny says, "So, it would have been TN4, since I get a 2 VCR. :P" «OOC» Gaul says, "Op, Nope duh never mind me" «OOC» Ginny says, "Wait. So, can you refund that KP?" «OOC» Ginny says, "As that gets me to dif 2" «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 3 vs TN 6 for "searching for tracking signal. it's low-flux, and ginny is keeping it tight and hard to bounce signals out.": 2 3 3 = 0 Successes «OOC» Kensai says, "ginny - pose dipping into alleys?" «Plot» Gaul says, "Gaul will intercept the radio signal if he can and attempt to manipulate the GPS packets within it. He can't stop it going out, but he could potentially spoof the GPS loc" Ginny looks over "I am *not* abandoning my Van!" she squeaks, as she dives into an alley, calm as she at least controls the vehicle, if not what she got into "Remind me to get an EMP…" she muses The red-plated UAV passes overhead again, on a low-sweep. Three strato-nines have joined the ares inquisitor in the air… and then the inquisitor opens fire, its machine gun barking through the afternoon sky, but it just can't seem to catch its target! «Plot» Kensai says, "that seems like an electronics test again. this is a pretty simple device and signal, so i'll put your TN at 4. Task pool applies." «Auto-Judge[]» Gaul (#12599) rolls Electronics + Task Pool: 3 vs TN 4 for "Hmm. Perhaps if I simply break that packet up and then redigitize the coordinates - yea..lets see.": 2 2 2 2 3 4 5 = 2 Successes Kensai looks back at the others, and lifts his arm up, slowly. A panel on it opens up and he quickly taps some keys. "Sending a message to our contact. Apprising of situation." Sirens fill the air now. The gunfire seems to have set off all attention - probably also that street pizza Kensai left behind. «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 for "mystery dice": 1 2 2 4 5 «Plot» Kensai says, "give me another driving test, ginny? you're almost out of the woods!" «Plot» Kensai says, "how do you plan to cross the border?" «Auto-Judge[]» Ginny (#14136) rolls Car vs TN 2 for "Similar dif as last time": 3 3 3 4 5 = 5 Successes Gaul looks up in the middle of whatever he's doing with the scanner that he's jacked into and responds to Kensai about the OpFor Russian, "They will not be able to use the Comms hub integrated with the building they were enjoying. I have crashed the entire host - and it looks like there might be a bit of confusion as to who did it. Renraku seems to have been in the host…" «OOC» Ginny says, "Good question. I lack knowskills about the borders, which I should get… and, obviously, running the regular is difficult" «OOC» Kensai has a… little knowledge, there. an appropriate skill would be what helps you find the open spot. Kensai can try! barring that, the other way to typically find a place to cross is a contact. You could use the regular checkpoint, of course, but if they decide to search the vehicle… «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls Denver Border Crossings + Karma Pool: 1 for "do i have any idea?": 1 7 «OOC» Kensai says, "ginny - roll your driving test to continue your driving, and then ken will pose." «Auto-Judge[]» Ginny (#14136) rolls Car vs TN 2 for "Similar dif as last time": 4 4 7 11 14 = 5 Successes Kensai nods, then looks over. "Cross over to CAS sector where monaco meets crestmore. Our employer will update one of his people on our behalf - they will take the package off of our hands there." «Plot» Kensai says, "notes: we are currently in the CAS FTZ, so the border crossing isn't quite as tricky here as it could be." Ginny nods at that, hands on the wheel, seeming a bit nervous, but deciding to follow directions, as she peers down at the road "Of course. Hopefully we'll lose a tail along the way." «Auto-Judge[]» Kensai (#8241) rolls 5 vs TN 7: 1 1 3 4 8 = 1 Success «OOC» Kensai says, "alas, 1 success is insufficient for them!" Victor readies his pistol in anticipation of a gunfight, but unless someone says so he's not about to lean out of the van and start shooting. He just waits to see what everyone else wants to do. "I could run around some more," he says, "but if there's a tracker in this guy, I doubt it'll work as well this time." Gaul continues to sit calmly now and monitor the scanner attached to his head via datajack, "Signal is still clean in regards to the spoof, the little device is trying for all it's worth to let them know we're here. Thankfully it's transmitter is low-power or the drones would be able to sniff it before I can alter it. Thankfully my output is stronger and I'm overriding." he looks over at the sweating Japanese man, "How did you plan on mitigating this in your initial escape…it's very strange Yametetsu would not have taken the time to neutralize it." his blue eyes regard the other cooly. Overhead, a positive dogfight is taking place. The first drone that opened fire - the Ares Inquisitor - is met with a criss-cross pattern of machine guns from two of the Strato-9s. The gun fire rips into it, shattering circuits, and as its engine is breached the whole district is treated to sudden fireworks. Meanwhile, the UAV maneuvers like it were an actual swallow, getting in BEHIND the last drone before dropping low for a nape-of-earth flyby, its powerful engines echoing along the canyons of steel and glass (and shattering not a few of the latter) as it desperately searches for the signal… and then it's gone, soaring into open sky, the vectored-thrust engines blazing with raw power as its remote pilot pours on the speed. The drone, at its closest, passed all of 10 meters above the humble blue van. Close enough for the under-thrust to push against the roof. The man shakes his head. "I was not party to the plans except to know where to be, and when, and to know how to disable my minder. But I believe the cuffs they had me in were involved in deadening the signal. My emergency call for help cut off as soon as they restrained me. It is not out of the realm of possibility," he adds, starting to calm as the talk turns to microtronics and devices. "To be able to include minor ECM even in such a small device. I had developed a way to easily integrate that into helmets and a wrist unit, with a small switch to allow you to divert power to either the ECM or counter-counter measures. My work was more with the protective systems themselves, of course, but even then there is room for brilliance…" When the van moves to the border crossing, a pale-looking blonde man with the sort of jaw that movie producers dream of approaches the door. He seems to be alone. "You the delivery van?" He asks to whoever rolls down the window to talk. Gaul seems mollified by the technical details of the Toymakers answer, nodding in time and following. "Interesting. Elegant solution indeed." He looks at Kensai after that, nods slightly to indicate the answer makes sense and goes back to his job of spoofing the ping. Victor blinks a few times at their passenger, quirking up a brow and tilting his head to one side. Only some of the electro-shop-talk gets through to him, but he shakes his head clear of it and leans to peer out the front. "So is there a… drop somewhere? Is there, like, a codeword we're supposed to exchange?" This might have been in the dossier somewhere, which he *probably* didn't read in exhaustive detail. The 'passenger' looks imploringly at Kensai, who glances to Victor. "I contacted our patron while we were moving, to appraise the situation. This is where we drop him off, here at this crossing. I understand this to be shift change, and the contact should be here alone." He looks toward the front. "My employer rarely sets up specific details too far in advance, for the situation his contractors find themselves in when the work is done is always different." Ginny sighs, before she lowers the window and offers a smile "Yes. We are the delivery drivers." she begins, The man nods. "Excellent," he says. "Let the package out. The rest of the shift will be here in five minutes. It should be enough time for me to get him taken care of." He glances towards the FTZ sky. "That you guys, or… you know what. I don't need to know." He gives the redheaded woman a respectful, admiring nod. "Well done. Your work is finished." Gaul says from his side of the car as the Toymaker prepares to be recovered, "You will need to keep his tracking signal on this frequency spoofed or jammed in your extraction. Otherwise all this will be for naught," he says calmly out the door to the pickup man. Victor looks around to the others, who all seem satisfied this is their contact. He relaxes just a little. Not enough to put his gun away, not yet. Ginny nods, relaxing just a bit "Of course." she agrees, looking back "And no. No connection to us." she just claims. Kensai breathes easily, at last, and then sinks back into his seat and finally lets the pain in. THE RUNNERS ESCAPE TO SAFETY Epilogue: Hours pass. Eventually the hubub in the city dies down. News reports flash across the screen of a conflict between terrorist elements and lonestar forces. Only one casualty, a clandestine operator working for a far-east terrorist group. What is the city coming to? Rumors also circulate in the streets about the adventure - sounds like neither Renraku or Yamatetsu knows where he is, and someone else is pulling strings to locate them. At the same time, other rumors pass around, these on the streets. A bodyguard with supposed Renraku connections was found dead in cherry creek park, his feet encased in cement, missing his fingers, his eyes, and his tongue. One of the local yakuza syndicates has a new person on staff… word is that their best people are being outfitted with super mega armor mechs as we speak. The matrix buzz is rumoring about a security spider being crashed, a computer node in seattle suddenly exposed… …and simple messages appears on the most secret of trixboards, deep in the data havens: I know what you did. I have seen your skills. Find me, world serpent. We must speak. - HeWhoSlumbers