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GM: Posh
Players: Alexei, Autumn, Daemon Starks, Lost, Lucia, Shoeshine Boy
Synopsis: Posh’s Aztech contact had had a shipment of Awakened bacteria for various forms of study sent underhandedly as part of a cost-saving measure. When a team of runners hits the shipment, however, Posh must hire a team to steal the vehicle back from the impound lot.
Date: 8/31/2075
Rain slashes against the window of the high rise apartment. The patter echoes the sounds of a submachinegun burst, vaguely audible, from over the wall in the Warrens, more than a mile away, though to the occupant of the apartment, the sounds are indistinguishable.
"All right. All right. Conseula…All right. Look, I'll take care of this one for you. I think it was a good plan too…but…" Posh chuckles, adjusting her sunglasses. "I'll get a team together, okay? I’ll even cut my share for you, at least for putting it together, as I know your discretionary is tight, and this is probably a personal payout for you, but I'll make it clean. I promise."
ONE HOUR LATER
The flashes on the pocsecs happen all at once. A message pops up, with a location. <Sal's Diner, in the CAS sector. 30 minutes. Come equipped.> Some of the old timers may be vaguely, or more than vaguely, familiar with Posh, more or less, but some might not. In any case, the runner who goes by that handle is likely researchable, and your availability information posted to the Shadowlands combined with a little research suggests a short notice job requiring a few warm bodies.
Entering the low, slightly flickery light of Sal's means that you get to pass the man himself, whipping up some serious waffle batter, while at the back corner of the near-empty diner sits Posh…all done up in Miss J costume. Dark sunglasses, fiberoptics and makeup combining for deep burgundy hair and lipstick, flawless eyebrows arched, and a black Securetech suit. She speaks to a barback that sprays sweetener/creamer mixture into a cup. "Waffles." That's the only word she speaks, as she waits. It's a big booth, so she's going to be jammed in when all freaking eight or whatever runners cram in there with her.
Shoeshine is dressed in his Warrens-style finery - that or he's taking the Maglev through some serious territory to the end of the line. The bulky overcoat on his chunky body could conceal all kinds of things as could the trim rectangular college-boy backpack he's wearing (he does seem about that age). So the educated eye would agree that he's followed the initial command to 'bring your drek.' No going home, no stopping off, he's ready to hit the bricks running and gunning.
Shoeshine , it should be mentioned, does have wide, innocent eyes on his youthful, clean-shaven face.
Luciawalks in with a clack of heels against the cheap flooring, a medium sized backpack slung over her back. Long coat sheading rain water and general murk from the warrens with each elegant step. She nods her head walking toward the J.
Autumn arrives dressed in a less upmarket manner than her currently set description, wielding an umbrella against the rain despite her beige knee length coat, the bottle green jacket under this unzipped over a black turtleneck sweater. Jeans and ankle boots complete her outfit with it all really looking too new for the Warrens if also hardly expensive. The giant coat ensures no sign of what she might be carrying though she does have a bag slung over one shoulder, pausing in the entrance to peer around, pocsec in hand as she double checks something (perhaps the location).
In her own apartment, Lost was taking advantage on some downtime to do… some laundry. The life of a shadowrunner is, at times, interesting, but just about any lifestyle is full of mundane moments. A bleep from her PocSec gets her attention, and after reading the message, she sets about gathering a few things together. A few moments later, she arrives at Sal's in pretty typical street clothes along with a SecureTech jacket. People are wearing those things everywhere now-a-days after all. She's also got a black messenger-style bag slung over one shoulder. She looks around the diner briefly before spotting Posh and heading over to the booth that she's claimed. Shoeshine gets an upnod in greeting before the dark-haired elf scooches into the booth.
Alexei enters from the street, moving slowly and taking his sunglasses off as he comes inside. Putting the glasses away into a small case and pocket in his coat, he gives a thin smile as he looks about. Hitching the slender duffel bag strapped over one shoulder up a bit, it apparently having some weight to it, he moves forward into the restaurant and back towards Posh. An inquisitive expression crosses his features as he nears and really starts to look at everyone present.
Posh takes a sip of her coffee and scooches a little further over into the booth, quirking as everybody, with big coats and big huge bags, starts to try to jam into one diner booth. She shifts a little further over as two join her on her side, and four across on the other, beginning to create a situation that is at once exquisitely comical and uncomfortable. She seems to be suppressing laughter, given the telltale quirks twitching at the corners of her mouth.
Autumn moves to secure herself a spot, sliding in, definitely only having brought a small bag for her part though she has definitely worn the requisite trenchcoat. Pausing to flick drier her umbrella she then folds it shut before seating herself, languidly occupying a place before she follows in an English accent. "Autumn, pretty sure none of you know me."
Lucia flings her bag off her shoulder and slides it into the booth behind gathering booth. She slides in behind the bag, knees on the bench facing the J behind the others. Leans back, butt on the edge of the table, coat folding under the weight, her arms locked on the top of the bench (assuming this is like any other dinner with booths and benches butting up to each other.)
Alexei quirks a smile, looking back and forth at the gaggle of 'professionals' all obviously congregating on the booth. He stands for a moment as everyone situates themselves, before dragging a chair over and sitting it before the table of the booth. "Evening chummers." he says, eyes twinkling as the damp drips off of his coat onto the floor. Slipping the strap of his bag off of his shoulder he drapes it over the chair-back before sliding in. "I can dig waffles. They do the job, that is for sure." he says, folding his hands in his lap and looking around a bit more at those present. As the others introduce themselves his eyes follow each in turn and put a face with the name, and he nods a greeting of sorts. "You chummers can call me Dark." he says softly. "Just to be sure, which of you here is the broker?" he adds, a bit of increased tightness, tension, behind his eyes as he waits for the answer to that question.
"The handle's Lost." Lost introduces herself with a smile, looking around the booth slowly, "Lots of new faces. Hope Denver's been treating you well so far." She glances out the window at the rain spattering down outside. "Great night for it…" She mutters to no one in particular, shifting in her shift, perhaps trying to carve out a little more space in the likely cramped booth. At Alexei's question, she grins, nodding in agreement, "A fine question." She doesn't, however, answer it, instead looking around the assorted faces to see who will take ownership of the job offer.
As the incoming msg beeps on Starks pocsec, he stares at his three Aces out of five cards. The cigar burning close to the end of a long night, passed out hookers lounging on the couches surrounding the rooms edge. He smiles at the known Yakuza enforcer across from him, "I call…" The cards fall, Starks smiles, the Yak growls and tosses cards to the table with a furious look. A chuckle escapes Starks as he rakes in the chips. «*Eye glass feed: MSG - meet the J, Sals place, 1 hour.*»
Daemmon Starks stands up and takes up the chips, "Johnny 'ere will handle exchanging my chips for cred, it's been real but I gotta go see a man about a horse." Starks stubs the cigar out, snorts one last line of pure Novacoke from the glass table nearby; then quickly exits stage right….
To enter stage left, Starks just walked into the diner fully equipped, making a secure stash of the duffle bag near the table. He nods to the J and everyone there, then grins as he notices it's Posh. "What's the scan.."
The one in the black suit and sunglasses pouts a little bit. "Hey," she says. "I thought I'd made it obvious enough," she says. "In any case," she says. "I've got a job that's very short notice, somewhat dangerous, but unless you create it, not a lethal situation," she says. "I'm offering you thirty thousand each to repossess a truck," she explains. "That seems simple enough but there are a few hiccups regarding this job. If you're interested, I hope you will assure me if your discretion so that I can continue. You may choose to decline to participate after, with no hard feelings, but I hope you understand that I must count on your discretion past this point," she says, with a smile.
Autumn raises her eyebrows at that, her head quirking ever so slightly to one side as she continues to hold out her umbrella and let it drip upon the floor. "That is one very expensive truck. Discretion assured though I do want to hear significantly more before I commit more than that."
She tips a polite wink to Stark when he arrives, realizes she's wearing sunglasses so he can't see the wink, and gives him a smile. "Might want to pull up another chair…it's a tight fit around this diner booth." It's made even tighter when a big plate of waffles, a huge dollop of whipped cream, arrives atop the barback waddling closer. "Shoeshine, would you be a dear and pass that over to me? And a syrup too." She smiles. "Also, would anyone else like a waffle before we begin? We don't have a lot of time, I'm afraid, so I'm sort of asking you more than one question at a time." She nods to Autumn. "Indeed, a very expensive truck."
Shoeshine is only too happy to move foodstuffs around, even though his shorter arms don't make for a good boarderhouse reach. "Please, do go on. I have the usual tools for such things as needed."
Daemon Starks offers a professional courtesy nod in understanding, pulls up another chair that creeks under his hidden weight. Starks then pulls out a black colored cigarette, preparing to spark it up.
Daemon Starks says "I'm all ears beautiful."
Lucia waves behind the others and nods in agreement to Autumns statement, "What kind of resistance can we expect on this pricey little truck?"
"With this many bodies, it sounds like easy money." Lost begins, shooting a grin in Posh's direction. "In any case, rest assured that I won't be breathing a word of this meeting to anyone. But, as it's pointed out, lot of cred for one truck." She shifts in her seat, tilting her head to the side inquisitively, "There must be some sort of catch, here."
Alexei 's mouth quirks at one corner as he eyes Daemon for a moment, giving an upnod in greeting and offering a hand to shake. Lost gets a nod of approval and reciprocation. Then he turns back to Posh as she gives the scan on the job, starting to nod slowly as the basic outline is given. "Null sweat filly. All professional here. Isn't that right omae?" he says, eyes and grin turning back towards Daemon. "You just tell us how you want it, and what we have to work with. Ah, but before we get too much deeper, does someone here know the old man? He cool? Or do we need to white noise it up in here first?" he says, his manner staying friendly but turning serious all the same.
Daemon Starks grins in recognition of Alexei, he offers a return nod and then listens in patiently to the J's offer of business.
"There is indeed a catch," says Posh, with a smile as everyone agrees. She waves her arm, as well. "We already are," she explains, in response to Alexei's concern. "Better than that, the old man is better than cool," she says. "He's hard of hearing. You had to shout your orders at him across the counter before he got the barback," she says.
"Here's the deal. The vehicle is presently located on a Knight Errant impound lot," she says. "I've arranged transport to nearby," she says. "But it's going to be moved from that location in two hours. My client and I don't know where it's being moved to, so you're on a very tight schedule. You've pretty much got to do your team planning in the transport." She apologizes sheepishly. "I only heard about this job less than an hour ago. Not just that, there's a simple ROE: No killing. Now that's fortunate, because you're probably not going to face lethal weaponry unless you escalate things, but…" She shrugs. "Now fortunately, since this is a repossession, we've also got a fob for the truck and a transponder. I can provide you an overhead map of the facility, and a coordinate fix for the truck - which seems be inside this gated awning. There are two major gates to bypass, a monorail for a semi-fixed drone system, as well as heavy security," she explains. "Killing would bring too much attention onto this operation. It has to look like a simple theft from the impound lot." She nods. "The outer gate is much more substantial than that inner gate, and is the only way to drive a truck in and out of the impound lot. It's controlled by three guards at this gatehouse, here," she says. "Response time in the area is predictably quick, so you'll have to move fast if you need to make any noise, which you probably will have to do. You only have to deliver the truck a few blocks away, without a tail, where my client has a facility to receive the delivery. Just drive it directly into this storefront here," she says. "And I will deliver your payments via certified credstick to a drop location of your choice, which you can simply send me after the job," she says.
"Sara's waiting outside," Posh says, referring to the transport driver. "So, before I send you on your merry way, are there any other questions?"
Autumn leans forward as she listens, resting a hand upon the edge of the table, a slight nod and no attention paid to the food."Okay, who is the registered owner of this truck and what was it impounded for? Pretty relevant to any plans we might make regarding getting it out or infiltrating, not to mention the security it might be under."
Shoeshine mentions, "I do have a disguise kit and three masks and I took a course in makeup; if you need someone to do faces and so forth."
«Plot» Posh says, "KE Impound Lot
| SSSS RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR|
| SSSS RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR|
| SSSS RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR|
| RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR|
|CCC RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR|
|CCC RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR|
|CCC HH |
========GGGGGGG============================
Empty space filled with cheaper parked vehicles
Roofed area (R) is surrounded by chain link fense
12' wall around perimeter, with rail drone in and out
Security hut (S) on northwest
Gatehouse (H) near Gate on south (G)
Cashier's office is southwest (C)"
Alexei quirks a brow looking down at the map and scratching his chin. "Any intel on any magical defenses for the impound facility? I'd have to assume that there would be some. An alarm ward or a guardian spirit or elemental would be a nasty surprise. If not, I'll check as we head in. But that could be something that we'll need to slow down and deal with before moving in, if so." he says softly, a slight grimace to his features. "Quite the timetable on this one."
Shoeshine says, "Doesn't a warded place need to be kinda fully enclosed? That would mean only the security hut and gatehouse could be warded.
Daemon Starks nods, pulls out his pocsec and immediately reaches out to someone he knows.
Alexei shakes his head, gesturing at the outline of the fence. "No. There just needs to be 'something' physical to affix the ward to. It doesn't have to be totally enclosed. An alarm ward could be placed on the fence, just as an example." he says softly, his tone speculative. A bit of surprise registers in his eyes as Lost speaks contrary, and he raises his gaze to her for a moment before looking back down to the map with a shrug.
«Auto-Judge[]» Daemon Starks (#2946) has the Contact Phil Vinnucci with the following information:
-----> Contact for Daemon Starks (#2946) <-----
Contact Name: Phil Vinnucci
Level: 2
Type: cop
GM Note: Mr. Johnson's Little Black Book page 38: B:7; Q:3; S:6; I:2; W:3; C:2; E:6; R:2; PR:2
"You askin' about Lot 142?" asks Phil of Daemon by way of reply. "Sure, I can give you a little intel on that. One of the guys who works there is pretty trigger happy. But yeah, anyone, even a civilian, can go into the west side of it. That's where people got to pick up their impounded cars. If your vehicle's in the open lot, you can just drive it right out after getting a slip from the cashier. A guy at the gate goes and fetches your vehicle if it's in the covered lot, though."
"Lets start heading there, discussed as we go, get eyes on as soon as possible so that we know what we are planning for?" Autumn moves to stand now, a step to the side before she fiddles with her umbrella, continuing as she does so. "Do we have anyone here who is a good decker? Falsify a random near wreck in there belonging to one of us, or somebody who might be closely associated with somebody one of us pretends to be, then use that to get in and at least raise a distraction? Failing that anyone know a scrap merchant?"
Daemon Starks has started prepping to depart, grabbing the duffle back filled with small run equipment, the 'runner on the go' collection. Starks is already on the phone and speaking with someone quietly, seems to be about entrance and exit strategies for the impound lot. "You don ' say… what would I need to do to have you reprint and send me a scan of the reciept for a vehicle?"
Shoeshine makes sure to get a longish, blockyish duffel bag from the back of his car and load it into the vehicle as he keeps track of the plans.
Lucia grins slyly, "A good decker? I'm not exactly the wiz of the wiz, but I could probably handle this." She lifts her large backback and taps the side. "As long as we can get to a jack point on site and one of you want watch my back I'm willing to walk the trix."
Daemon's contact replies, "I couldn't really pull that one off…I mean, I don't work in impound, I've just been there, and I've never had a receipt because I never had my own vehicle impounded," he explains. "There are two types of holds on vehicles. Legal holds and bursar's holds. Bursar's holds are only applied for things like towed parking tickets, unpaid fines after settling cases, and so on. Legal holds mean that it's been designated evidence in a potential investigation. So the only receipt one would get would be an electronic receipt once you've paid the cashier."
Daemon Starks chuckles over the phone, "Fugget'about et, it was a good thought at least, I appreciate the intelligence. Come by the shop sometime and i'll do some free mods to your vehicle to impress the ladies eh?" he hangs up and looks over the group. "We have a decker? I believe we can make a solid plan out of this, easy peasy eh?"
A few handy jack points, brought to you by Limpy's Donuts, are at the booths. This booth is similarly equipped. "Why don't you do a little of that…ahead of time scouting from here?" asks Posh. "I've heard it only takes a second, and then your back. Isn't the same thing true when you're proper jacked into the Trix?
Lost shoulders her bag and slides up out of the booth, "Probably a good idea to get moving anyway…" Looking to Alexei, she ponders that for a moment, "It'd be a pretty big area to ward. I mean, they'd probably contract that sort of work out, but it would still take a lot of mages to make a ward that big. But…" She grins, "Easy solution is, just don't ghost through the fence until you're sure it's /not/ warded." She pauses to look around at the group, playing a silent game of Not-The-Decker.
Shoeshine says "This is a good place for wizards to go sleepytime and come back. As opposed to a moving vehicle."
Lucia unzips a long zipper to her bag and nods, pulling out her deck. "Just give me a few seconds amigos." She turns in her seat and lays the deck on the table, Pulling a cord from it and into the jackpoint, another from the deck to a concealed datajack behind her left ear.
"Well I am not a mage, if you want somebody to walk in and bullshit the knight errant then I can do that." Answers Autumn. "But we do need an actual plan. That said I can drive and I do have ruthenium." She pats her bag.
Daemon Starks eyes the vehicle being loaned for the job, giving it a quick once over; even going as far as popping the hood quickly to check for any signs of potential engine and mechanical failure. He gives the once over with an air of experience, someone familiar with working around vehicles over a lifetime. While he looks, he speaks up to the group. "We find out why the vehicle's in the impound lot, we can plan for an easier exit. If it's there on a legal hold, the hacker will need to lift the hold and change the name of reciept for whom-ever can pick up the vehicle, tie it to one of our fake SINs. If it's on a hold for tickets and fines, same thing and we'll just set up the driver with the proper credentials." Shutting the hood of the vehicle, once he's satisfied with the engine look over, he enters the passenger side door and gets into the front bucket seat next to the driver.
Shoeshine says "I could walk up with someone who was engaged in bullshitting the guards, and knock them out depending on how that guardhouse is set up and just how hard it is to shoot into there."
"Don't you pop my hood," says the big troll woman who's in the driver's seat of the Bulldog. "Unless you mean to pop a different hood of mine, little man," she leers down at Daemon. Meanwhile, Posh is tucking into her waffles.
Daemon Starks chuckles and backs away from the hood of the vehicle. "Call it professional courtesy, never get into a vehicle you don't inspect yourself right?"
The troll grunts. The hood raises, after a moment, for Daemon's inspection. It's pristine under there. Sara apparently likes to take care of her vehicles. "I'll be waiting a block away from the delivery point to bring y'all back here," she grunts, glaring at the humans disgustedly for a moment. "Frakkin' entitled, every time…"
When she jacks in, Lucia's treated to the incredible surge of the Matrix for a moment, flitting through the incredible avatarscape for a moment as she hones in on datanodes that have anything to do with Lot 142. Kight Errant, of course, has an enormous presence on the 'trix, represented as the most imposing white-stone castle possible, with a high curtain wall, but since of course it's spilled out and takes all sorts of other security jobs, it's like a city that has grown a little too big for its castle, all sorts of little outbuildings, but near the castle gates. Lot 142 appears to be one of these, at least…although she sees that it only has a facility labeled 'Cashier.' Of course KE is involved in a lot of datatraffic, and staying well away your avatar appears to be one of the many millions of visitors, idle browsers, or people with some sort of beef or whatever. But that IC…KE clearly runs some /badass/ IC.
Daemon Starks grins, "You have rather nice looking parts under the skirt there." then he checks the group, "So let's make a plan on the way eh?"
Those flitting forth on the Astral plane can see that there's no doubt magical security at this facility, but nothing /too/ special. There is a single watcher spirit that seems to patrol the outside, and a ward at the main gate. A figure that seems to be gabbing near the gatehouse bears the telltale aura of the Awakened. They seem to have a single shaman on staff, perhaps.
The aura reveals more than anything else: boredom. The team's main advantage is clear: Being a facility that serves the public, it's clear that the security is used to having to deal with people walking in and out all the time, trying to get their cars.
«Auto-Judge[]» Daemon Starks (#2946) rolls Security Systems + Task Pool: 3:
1 1 1 3 4 5 5
Daemon Starks says "I know a little about the security measures for an impound lot, and it's rather odd to have an actual mage on site. Could be connected to the vehicle pick up time, or just coincedence.."
Shoeshine says "It's possible they are tipped, or maybe there's something else of high value there, or what we're after is a little extra high value. Anyhow, without uniforms, I don't see how we can be the KE team. We can only disguise ourselves as relatively normal individuals."
"We might be pressed for time, but if I rush and blow enough on taxis I could turn up in ten thousand nuyen worth of business suit and make out I am some kind of corporate auditor. I do not have the paperwork to back that up but I do have the spiel." Autumn interjects.
Lost grins a touch sheepishly before sitting back down, "Of course. Getting a touch ahead of myself." Taking a deep breath, she leaves her physical form for the astral, coming back in a few seconds to relay the basic layout of magical security to the team. Nodding, to Daemon Starks, she speaks up, "I like that plan. But it all hinges on having the right credentials. So… we might need a Plan B if we can't cook those up. Which basically comes down to someone stalling the guards long enough for the rest of the team to knock out all the guards on sight, shock gloves or gel rounds only, then manually working the security while driving the vehicle away into the night. Unless the gate /can't/ be operated manually…"
As she pushes a moderate sized tactile button on her deck, Lucia's eyes give way to the telltale fade of someone jacked in. Her fingers dance the deck, minor fumbles and RIM eye movements spasm for seconds. Her head twitches briefly, the curls of her hair lacing around the cord connected to the back of her brain as she plays with her deck. »>In the Matrix, a black laced fairy hops node to node, whisking nodes with wands, a magical dust litters over the nodes as she peers into them, their structure turning transparent. The hunt for personal movements, names at minimum, security protocols of the site, vehicle registries, and anything that might have anything to say about the truck the team is targeting. «<
Daemon Starks says "Did anyone catch how the vehicle is being transported?"
«Auto-Judge[]» Lucia (#8162) rolls Computers:
1 1 11
Lucia's cull of social media associated with Lot 142 involves a complaint about 'the weird guy stuck here for a couple of days, right after this big truck got delivered' After all, generalities of what is or is not in an impound lot is hardly overly sensitive information.
Another message, associated with a cashier reads, 'Oh my goodness! I hope Bill asks me out…he's so cute I nearly hit the panicbutton when he smiles at me…he's started making the gate salute me every time I check in!"
There are a number of avatars heading in and out of the office.
Must be people folks logging in to pay their towing bills and such electronically.
"They would put it on a flatbed car transporter." Comments Autumn to Damon. "Though it would take up a good half of the capacity or more, dpending upon the truck."
Shoeshine , if he is informed, will say, "I will bet there is something magical on that vehicle dangerous enough that they assigned a shaman to the thing."
«Auto-Judge[]» Lucia (#8162) rolls Computers (to Posh):
3 5 11
Shoeshine works the automapping system along the way there, picking a spot about 3-4 blocks away which has an alleyway or place where the van here can park inconspicuously for a lengthy time. "Home base, rendesvous point one. Synchronize commlinks." And he gives out his comm code. "Let me do a walkaround and see what I can see with my super-vision."
Daemon Starks prepares his electronics tool kit, maglock bypass keys, fake SINs and permits for the savalette Guardians he's currently exchanging ammo clips to non-lethal Gel rounds. He studies the map o the impound yard while they approach the compound.
Daemon Starks replaces his face with a polymask and voice synthesizer, turning into brown haired caucasian nobody.
<Auto-Judge[]» Daemon Starks (#2946) rolls Disguise vs TN 6:
1 2 2 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Daemon Starks (#2946) rolls Disguise vs TN 6 for "kp 1":
2 4 7 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Daemon Starks (#2946) rolls Stealth for "TN (+4)":
1 2 2 3 4 17
«Plot» Daemon Starks says, "disguise is TN 21 to see through"
Lost performs a quick commcheck after the team arrives at the point Shoeshine designates as Home Base. "I can park myself right here and stay on astral overwatch, unless you'd prefer I stick close for support. If all else fails, if they're grouped together somewhere outside a ward, a well placed stunball could at least buy some time if we're made. Otherwise… we can walk onto the lot, we can start and drive the vehicle… we just have to get the gate open at the right time."
Daemon Starks nods to Shoeshine and then looks back to impound. "Worst case, we distract, sneak in, drive out. Keep it simple when in doubt."
Lucia finds that there appear to be two large 'bins' represented as file cabinets. The one labeled 'Court Holds' is nearby, and is the one all the security is built around; the one labeled 'Financial Holds' likely depends more on deterrence and location. Who's going to risk pissing off KE over a few nuyen to get your vehicle out of impound? Just pay the nuyen. Lucia is able to create a receipt and pickup order for another vehicle, that is in the roofed area, that recently had a legal hold but was awaiting the financial restriction lifted.
Shoeshine will, however, discover that this isn't necessary and that the decker has already generated a means of base entry.
Walking around front, though, Shoeshine can see that to make a friendlier front, it appears the wall has been leveled, leaving it 3 sided. It's all proper fence, that heavier version of chain link, in front, letting Shoeshine see the whole lot.
There's the small gatehouse, and then the large roofed area, and more cars to the west. Two guards seem to be standing in the gatehouse, talking through the window to a young man. Both guards right now in the gatehouse seem to be women in their thirties, one ork and one human, and they seem to be competing for the man's attention, before he turns and heads to the cashier's office. A man in his early 40s in a KE uniform approaches the gatehouse from the security shack, where a gothy, angry looking figure hangs out alone, smoking and checking out his PDA.
There's a steady stream of people heading in and out, well, not steady, maybe one every couple of minutes. It's night, after all, not the busiest time, but apparently not dead either. The gate itself is a metal bar that is raised and lifted; a person on foot can simply walk around either side of it.
A number of people seem to just be walking around the parked cars out in the open, it seems that you can just go and fetch something out of your trunk if you have your own key. The roofed area seems to have much more security attention.
The news that an impound ticket has been secured is welcome, « So what, walk on the lot, get to the target vehicle, and when they open the gate for the legit ticket, we fullback the thing out the gate? That could work, but I don't think we're gonna like the response to that. So… what then? » Lost asks over comms, leaning against one of the walls in the alleyway of Home Base, nonchalantly casting a gaze at the surrounding astral space every so often.
"I have a dikoted cougar blade and a shock glove." Confirms Autumn. "I can start talking to the mage, see if I can bullshit him enough to keep him distracted, zap him if that fails? I will try to avoid just opening his throat though given our instructions."
«Plot» Shoeshine says, "The plan: Autumn and Shoeshine go in under the guise of having a ticket for a car. Autumn engages the shaman and lures him to a place where he can be knocked out, which Shoeshine performs, hiding him in a blind spot. Autumn and Shoeshine then do the same thing to Bill, the attractive guard. When he is hidden, then Alexei, Lost, and Daemon Starks sneak in or walk in as needed - some ruthed, some invisible, some walking."
«Plot» Shoeshine says, "Alexei mind probes Bill for useful information, Lost physical Masks Daemon to be Bill. Bill then goes into the inner gate with Shoeshine, who has been made invisible by Alexei."
There's a bit of an opportunity to head in while the others aren't really looking, somewhat distracted by Bill. Autumn and Shoe get a friendly wave-in as they approach the gate, presumably allowing them to either go to the cashiers' office or to approach their own vehicle in the open lot.
Autumn has managed to go into the parking lot, as they're not doing anything out of the ordinary, even though it's dark. She and Shoeshine aren't headed over to the area anyway. As the pair enter the vicinity of the parked cars in the open lot, Shoe is quickly lost to observation simply due to height and dead zones. That leaves Autumn with a chance to approach the shaman, finishing up his smoke and buried deep in his PDA.
«Plot» Shoeshine says, "For sudden knockout blows, I can match my escrima with my combat pool and lay the standard shock gloves on top to ensure unconsciousness but no kill."
Autumn is wielding her umbrella against the downpour, also subtly positioning it against the line of sight of security cameras and her face, as she tromps through the parked vehicles. She ensures that she does not go straight to the shaman but instead makes a show of wandering up and down the parking rows as if searching for something. A fake startle, as she 'sees' something on a vehicle between two full height vans, then she hurries toward the man doing her best to look alarmed. "Excuse me? I saw something really odd looking over there!" She gestures.
«Auto-Judge[]» Autumn (#5914) rolls Etiquette:
2 3 3 4 5 7
«Auto-Judge[]» Posh (#11342) rolls 5 vs TN 6:
1 2 3 8 11 = 2 Successes
The man scowls at her briefly, a little suspicious. But that could just be his gothy darkness glaring at you. In any case, he shakes his head. "I don't have time for that garbage," she says. "Whoever you think you are, leave me alone to do my job," he says, almost menacingly.
«Auto-Judge[]» Autumn (#5914) rolls Negotiation vs TN 5:
1 3 4 5 5 10 = 3 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Posh (#11342) rolls 6 vs TN 8 for "resisting autumn's negotiation":
2 3 4 5 8 15 = 2 Successes
Autumn makes a show of looking taken aback, hesitating, a half step taken away, before she shakes her head, once, twice, clutching her umbrella in closer to her. "Please help! It was like… Purple slime? Strands of it draped over the side of a car over there. I think it was moving?"
"I… Think it was moving?" Autumn sounds unsure, an anxious glance back in the direction she indicated then a hesitation before she starts to lead the way, not looking terribly happy about approaching the imaginary slime. "Up ahead here, on the other side of that red van?"
The man glances over at the van Autumn indicates, unknowing that there's a Shoeshine Boy lurking nearby. And even if he were, Shoeshine is doing a pretty good job of staying shorter than the van, which he is very good at. The shaman finally shrugs and moves to follow Autumn over to there. "All right," he says, figuring his Watcher's got anything weird covered in the astral. "Lead the way," he instructs.
Shoeshine trundles along as the bored relationship-interest who drove Autumn here and who has to help her get the car. His wide, innocent eyes are guilless, and being cybernetic, he doesn't have to turn his head to keep track of the cameras. If he can't see them (becomes of vehicles and buildings) they can't see him.
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Stealth:
1 1 2 5 5 7
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Stealth for "eh kp 1":
1 3 4 5 5 23
«Auto-Judge[]» Posh (#11342) rolls 5 vs TN 23 for "Mage spotting":
1 1 3 5 9 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Escrima + Combat Pool: 9 vs TN 4 for "Sucker punch, as it is called":
1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 7 10 = 7 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Escrima + Combat Pool: 9 - 7 vs TN 4 for "kp 2":
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 17 = 4 Successes
Distracted by Autumn's work, the mage moves to follow her over to the car in question, not quite aware what is happening as he's rather bored out of his skull. Anything to pique his magical interest…some ectoplasm in fact? No, that's Ghostbust…
Lost links up with Daemon Starks, ready to put Operation: Impersonate Bill into action as soon as the all clear comes in on the commlines that the shaman has been knocked out. Until then, she just scans the area, occasionally glimpsing the astral to make sure nothing out of the ordinary is going on with the magical security that the team has already identified.
«Plot» Shoeshine says, "I will stand at 11 successes, base damage 11m stun, then 7S stun shock."
Shoeshine uses the natural alleyways of the cars so that the fellow stands between Autumn and he - it's really terrible tactically for the shaman to do that but hey, there are cameras and guards all around, right? Serves him right for having his head in the magical realm. Anyhow, it's just after they move through one row of cards and are angling to the next that Shoeshine flagrantly blindsides him. It's a hop up to put one palm on the side of his head and hook the shock glove into his temple crushingly, carrying him down as he sags. Even then, the man is trying to twitch to consciousness, trying to shake it off with wide eyes, so Shoeshine mercifully cracks him on the chin with a rising fist, a pressure-point technique all the boxers used backed up by more stun. He is still, and in a moment he's tucked mostly underneath a handy vehicle, too.
Lucia hangs back at the jack point, plug in, but not in the trix, Sitting cross legged on the ground, deck in lap. Tuned in on the commlink, "Lucia standing by.' She taps out the micro-receiver. Ah, she thinks, 'Let's check the area for CCTV cam's and obverse the >action<.' Taping her key she's back in the trix sprinkling dust.
Commlink-Dogface> Shoeshine sends, « Wizards. Check that watcher. Did it fade? »
« On it. » Lost replies, taking the opportunity to scan the area she last saw the Watcher, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible while glimpsing the astral.
Daemon Starks assumes the disguise of a bored white 'yuppy' trailing Lost and Alexei towards the entry gate, prepared to use a pocsec photo copy of the ticket the group had with a 'my new puppy ate the ticket' sob story if he's questioned. It's no secret that all girls love puppies, or is it? The diguised middle american 'Johnny' will work his way into the compound and melt into the yard of vehicles and disgruntled citizens waiting for pick up.
The watcher spirit has indeed faded, when Lost checks the astral. It's an indeterminate amount of time before the shaman checks in, however.
The 'ticket' as it were, is really just an electronic receipt sent to PocSec, which must surely match something that they check at the gatehouse. However, it seems that with the shaman temporarily out of action, nobody notices as Daemon crosses the ward with a spell active.
Bill is still chatting up the guards, it seems. He's having a good old time, laughing it up with the two ladies. "Hey, can you cover my rounds for me? Consider it evens for those beers you owe me," he says, to the older guard.
Shoeshine catches this with his super-hearing. Over his comm he says, "I need a text on my pocsec, (gives number) that looks like an offical ticket, that says Bill (lastname) parked my car, some car here." And he begins meandering over.
Shoeshine cues the decker.
«Auto-Judge[]» Lucia (#8162) rolls Computers (to Posh):
2 3 4
Lucia takes the cue and triggers a key to the ready, 'Transmission to the pocsec should be populating… Now. Pictures and text." Lucia is keeping an eye on the lot through a CCTV camera across the street, 'Got my eyes on you now boys and girls."
Shoeshine , when he sees that his pocsec has an official-looking email with Bill's name and picture on it, glances up and goes ah! "There he is," he mutters to himself, and goes over to chat with Bill.
Daemon Starks listens to the chatter over the crew's comm system, understanding the impromptu changes to the basic strategy and working out the details to jump in when ready.
Bill seems to be an alert an affable guy, freckled and redheaded and improbably handsome for his occupation, but it's clear when he puts his hand on his belt and turns with a friendly smile to the approaching SSB, he's got the swagger that makes it clear he was one of those folks who always wanted to be a cop when they were a kid, and is one now. "Well, hello there, fella. What can I do you for?" he asks, as Shoe approaches.
Lost loiters as inconspicuously as possible within the outer lot, waiting for her cue. She pauses a few times, possibly considering saying something over comms, but decides to keep the line quiet for now, just keeping a close look out for any sign of alarm from the guards.
Shoeshine says, "Hiya! Are you Bill Rickard? Shoeshine shows him his pocsec, which has an officialish looking document on a small screen with a copy of Bill's public picture. "I'm sorry, but I'm having a heck of a time finding my car." He looks sheepish and a little embarassed - of course he is, he's too short to look over the rows of cars. "This thing - I think it's a third party aggregate - " (he taps behind his ear where his datajack is) "says you were the last one to park it? I don't suppose you recognize it and could show me where it's at?" He points into the appropriate location.
"Why sure, I think I can help you out with that," says Bill. "Why don't I come take you there directly? I'm Officer Rickard, by the way," he says, turning to the two. "Ladies, duty calls. I'll be back in just a couple minutes, though," he says.
Perhaps regretfully, the two there begin talking to each other, checking their stuff.
Shoeshine , yea verily, heads with Officer Bill Rickard into the wilderness of the camera zone. Did the older officer head out on Bill's rounds? If so he has to stealth there too and make sure the older officer doesn't see the knockout.
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Stealth vs TN 6:
2 2 2 3 4 5 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Stealth vs TN 6 for "kp3":
1 2 2 2 4 4 = 0 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Stealth vs TN 6 for "kp5 dice revenge":
3 3 4 4 5 8 = 1 Success
«Auto-Judge[]» Posh (#11342) rolls 5 vs TN 4:
1 2 4 10 11 = 3 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Reaction vs TN 4:
2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 7 = 7 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Escrima + Combat Pool: 9 vs TN 4 for "against Bill":
1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 = 8 Successes
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Escrima + Combat Pool: 9 - 8 vs TN 4 for "against Bill kp 6":
1 1 3 3 3 4 5 7 7 7 = 5 Successes
Shoeshine can see that Bill is a more wary character. It's unconscious, the way he directs Shoeshine and doesn't let him get behind him. When they're in the zone, Shoeshine has to rely on speed and a little social construct, turning to him and looking up, reaching out as if to touch his hand for his attention. That's all it takes for the short-arm yank down into the clothesline across the throat. He goes over soundlessly choking, and slam, again, goes the fist shooting up into the chin, shocking jolt attached. And, tucked under the vehicle for the probing. Deep deep probing.
And so, with two of the guards, apparently the most crucial ones, completely knocked out and hidden among the others, 'Bill,' the one who goes and fetches vehicles from the roofed in area, has been replaced by Daemon, who gets the chance to see all of the details of Bill's sordid life, mainly both the exact location of the target truck (he parked it) as well as all of the flirty little games he plays with all the ladies while bored.
With the keyfob in the possession of Alexei, who hasn't shown himself yet, all that remains is for Bill to cooly take his place out front again, and then bring the correct truck around for Alexei to just drive off in, aided by Lucia's management of the grid system, in case there's trouble. But so far, it's still business as usual, there are still other customers, and no alarm has been raised.
«Auto-Judge[]» Lost (#4658) rolls Sorcery + Spell Pool: 4 vs TN 5 for "F4 Physical Mask for Daemon to become Bill":
1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 5 17 = 2 Successes
Alexei begins to approach, bearing the ticket…as well as his magical defenses at the tip of his tongue, in case anything goes south. He begins to approch 'Bill' with the ticket, who will have to act very naturally according to the procedure, which he fortunately just gently probed from Real Bill's mind, in order to pull this one off.
Autumn takes the opportunity to make her own exit from the lot, her own part in the neutralization of the guards taken care of, and she gives a friendly wave. "Thanks! I found it!" she calls out.
«Auto-Judge[]» Lost (#4658) rolls Willpower + Spell Pool: 2 vs TN 3 for "Resisting M Stun":
1 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 = 6 Successes
Shoeshine will touch his belt and say the code word 'Jace' to activate his Improved Invisibility tattoo, fading from view to a mere outline for the viewers at home.
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Willpower + 4 vs TN 3 for "against 3m stun, 20+ success f1 Imp Invis tattoo.":
1 1 1 2 2 2 4 4 5 5 5 15 = 6 Successes
«Plot» Shoeshine takes no drain.
« Alright, let's get this show on the road. » Lost transmits, grinning to herself as the message is relayed of Bill's sleeping on the job. « Proto-Bill, you see me? Get somewhere I can see you… » She wanders through the outer lot until reaching a spot where she's got line of sight. Taking a breath, she focuses on Daemon, making a nearly imperceptible gesture. Almost instantaneously, Daemon Starks becomes Bill, uniform, voice, mannerisms and all. « I'm gonna fall back toward Home Base, pick me up when the vehicle is clear. And give a yell if you need anything else from me. » That said, she pulls out her PocSec, stabs out a few texts, and starts moseying off the lot.
«Auto-Judge[]» Lucia (#8162) rolls Computers (to Posh):
2 5 16
«Auto-Judge[]» Posh (#11342) rolls 6 vs TN 16 for "Countermeasures":
3 3 3 3 4 13 = 0 Successes
The artist formerly known as Daemon Starks, now takes a first step as Bill, then another, adjusting slightly for that 'im too pretty to be a cop, but I live for action and flirting' type swagger, Bill becomes more and more comfortable with every step towards the waiting area near the gate. «Comm: Mind bender, meet me at the front, give the girl the ticket, and I'll retrieve the target» He keeps a strong eye out to avoid running into another guard if he can help it, and treks on back towards the front gate to wait for Alexei's ticket to be processed. Paper work, grunt work, more paper work. The life.
Starks is trying to time the arrival just as Alexei pops the ticket at the cashiers booth. «Comm: Ready to receive»
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Stealth for "I could turn on Silence too":
3 4 4 4 4 4
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Stealth for "I could turn on Silence too kp 9":
1 1 2 2 2 4
«Auto-Judge[]» Shoeshine (#844) rolls Stealth for "I could turn on Silence too kp 11":
1 4 5 5 5 8
«Plot» Shoeshine will stand there
«Auto-Judge[]» Daemon Starks (#2946) rolls Etiquette for "My nods are dangerous?":
1 1 1 2 2
«Auto-Judge[]» Daemon Starks (#2946) rolls Etiquette for "They are dangerous..":
1 1 2 7 16
Lucia clears her throat, 'Clearing the route for you chums,' «The fairy in the trix hovers to nodes, flying around them several times before sitting on their apex. 'Nope she shakes her head, not the hydrants, the Lights I need.' The Fairy proceeds to the next node, 'ah ha. Street lamps and cctv's, off you go!' The fairy pulls some dust from a pouch a sprinkles it on the node. 'And on to traffic lights..' She hopes past two more nodes, putting her touch on the top confirming. 'And some special dust for you.' She pulls some dust from a glowing pink bag and sprinkles it on the nod.» Lucia chimes back in on the comms, got a clean route set for the target, watching for the ready!
Shoeshine verily works on handing Starks tools, splicing errant cables that are beneath his notice, and that kind of thing.
On her way away from the lot, Lost becomes just another pedestrian with eyes glued to a little electronic crack box, looking up just often enough to avoid bumping into anyone or walking into traffic. « Looks quiet. » She says, with a casual glance back over her shoulder, « Let's keep it that way, shall we? »
It seems, perhaps surprisingly, that this truck has been equipped with a hotswappable transponder. So that means that it turns out to be merely a bit of plug and play action. Some pretty interesting mods, for a regular truck. But of course, given the payout, there's little chance this is a regular truck, right?
Given the amount of effort that has gone into stacking the deck, and the fact that both Bill and the shaman are unconscious, there are no incidents. 'Bill' can drive the truck, while Shoe sits invisibly in the passenger seat.
Shoeshine will check the back of the truck visually, using his various super-senses. He did have the idea that if a shaman was sent to watch the thing, there might be something about it.
Daemon Starks whistles while he drives the vehicle smoothly to the front, feeling like he dodged a bullet with the vehicle. He drives steadly to allow Shoeshine an easy scan of the back.
The cab of the big truck actually seems to be sealed off from the rest of it. There's smooth, featureless steel as Shoeshine examines. The truck seems to have been retrofitted to hold large, unmarked tanks in the back, but the contents of the tanks are a mystery. They seem welded shut.
Shoeshine is made appropriately paranoid by this.
Alexei awaits the vehicle, ready to replace 'Billy the Starks' as the driver and get out of dodge as quietly as possible!
At this point, Lost is posted up back at Home Base, sending texts, reading emails, maybe even doing a crossword as she waits for the truck to roll through that gate… Once it's on the outside, everything else should be gravy. On the surface, she might look calm, but she's tapping her foot impatiently and glancing in the general direction of the lot a bit more often than one might expect.
Daemon Starks drives the truck to the front, parking it right next to Alexei with the engine running. He steps out and nods to the waiting mage, "Have a safe day Citizen." Starks begins planning his melt away strategy working with any exiting pedestrians as if to direct them somewhere with gestures while he nears the ward at the front. «Comm: Drop the Mask, I'm heading home.»
« Roger. » Lost replies, looking a bit more at ease after dropping the spell, « You are Bill no longer. See you on the other side. » That said, she drops her head and goes back to fiddling inconspicuously with her PocSec.
«The fairy wizzes along in the digital lanes of the matrix at thought speed from the city nodes, turns on a dime, digital particles trailing to catch up. She blows a kiss to the node last sprinkled with the pink bag of dust; a vividly bright bullet from her mouth raises back to the node, initiating the timer set on the traffic lights back to the drop off. » Lucia pipes in, 'As you cross the perimeter the street lights will ax and traffic lights are in your favor.' Her comm chirps out.
The gate raises magically as the ladies in the guard shack see someone trying to exit - the runners have indeed exposed some of the flaw in the system. No doubt it'll be a little harder to steal in the future from the impound lot. In any case, even though the runners might have been recorded via drone feed, Shoeshine's work with the disguises make that a small risk to take. Not just that, nobody was on camera acting even remotely suspiciously. A woman and a dwarf, that's the best clue they get…what what the team doesn't realize, perhaps, is that poor Bill is likely going to take the fall: it looks like, after all, he just handed off the truck, or made a major error. Maybe you should have done your job better, handsome.
It's actually an uneventul trip back to the lockup, made very easy by Lucia's management of the green lights. And then, as soon as you park the truck in and leave, a message goes out to each of you from Posh.
"Great work, guys. Got not even a hint of chatter…what I'd love to have been able to be a fly on the wall when the KE regional manager heard about this one. Nice work, everyone!"
Shoeshine releases breath. Where was the screw? Probably in the tanks, which he is about to discover were magical VX nerve toxin about to be used on some orphanage. But he can't know that and he doesn't have the tools, so here is where he must walk away… and accept his fee for a job well done.
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