Friday 14 June 2075 0103 Hot Taco Touristville Seattle


Renee blushes. "Sorry. I tend to run on when I get excited. Oh my God, are those what I think they are? OK, listen, I am a grad student at the U, assisting Professor Stan Grant." Her face takes on a worried look. "Only I haven't seen the professor in two days and he is not answering his phone."

She pushes the folder across the table to you. "Here is some of our research, at least the part that I have. The rest is at his house and........"

At this moment, you notice that a bright red dot appears on her forehead.

I gave a quick nod to her question about the gills, and automatically though that Professor was likely dead or hostage - first step in recon would be a B&E mission to find that research.

The instant I saw the red dot my instincts took over - simply knowing what it means from spending some time in the shadows. I shouted out "Down, Sniper!", and followed with a string of rapid-fire Japanese under my breath, "Anata ga miru koto ga dekinai mono o utsu koto wa dekimasen!*" as I rushed off an equally fast string of gestures with my left hand - a second later Renee vanished from sight. I though of a smoke-bomb, and my trodes did the rest - there was an audible pop as one popped out of my reactive myomer backpack, and into my reaching right hand.




OOC:
Whelp, I wasn't expecting that!

Suprise Test (+3 dice for seeing laser sight): 11d6t5 3
Init Roll: 8+1d6 10

Free Action: Speak : "Down, Sniper!"
Simple Action: Reckless Spellcasting (Improved Invisibility (Force 4, Drain 6), Sustained on Focused Concetration)
Improved Invisibility: 12d6t5 4
Drain Resist: 13d6t5 4 (Take 2 Stun)
Simple Action: Reactive Myomer Pack (Retreive Item (Smokebomb), Free as Simple?)
I don't have HT on hand (haven't moved the PDF from my other laptop to Google Drive), but I believe you can retrieve as Free if wireless is on? Correct me if I'm wrong - if that's not the case then Hikari would duck herself.

I also noticed that Chummer was messing up with the ammo again for the stuff in the myomer bag - I'm sending what should be the last profile your way and updating on the char page. Any tweaks should only have affected the gear.

*Google Translate: "You cannot shoot what you cannot see!"

Friday 14 June 2075 0103 Hot Taco Touristville Seattle


Confusion reigns supreme in the small diner. Three customers and the waitress dive for the floor at your warning and others rise to their feet. Renee vanishes but you see her chair scoot back from the table as something puts a hole in the window and smashes into the back of her chair. In a moment of clarity, you see a man enter the diner, carrying a large pistol in his hands and you have a smoke grenade in yours.

Spotting the man with the pistol, I dropped the smokebomb on the floor, the ceramic shell breaking open with a slight flash and a burst of smoke in all directions. I pulled over the full-face hood on the chameleon suit, which triggers the ruthenium coating, before pulling jacket and scarf off over my head in one motion, holding onto them.



OOC:
If there's any confusion, smokebombs are a seperate piece of gear from Hard Targets, not smoke grenades. They're cheaper (less than half the cost) which makes them a good substitute at charecter creation - they sacrifice range of effect (3 meters vs. 10) and duration (1 combat turn vs. 4), but they provide enough obfuscation for me to have time to trigger my suit. They have a fragile ceramic shell, so a drop should be enough to trigger one. .

I'm guessing that we're on the next combat turn here, so a new initiative roll.

Init Roll: 8+1d6 14

Free Action: Drop Object, Smoke Bomb
Simple Action: Change Device Mode (Activate Chameleon Suit)
Simple Action: Remove Jacket & Scarf

Friday 12 June 2075 0103 Hot Taco Touristville Seattle


Confusion reigns supreme in the diner. You feel someone push something at you and realize that it is Renee. "Here takethisyouarearunnereverythingisherepleasehelpus!"

The girl is on her feet in a flash and running for the door.

A million thoughts rushed through my head as she said that. Some part of me sighed internally - if she got out of here alive, I was going to have to track her down and make sure she got into a safe-house. With Pistol Guy at the door, and her already running towards him, that was looking less likely by the second.

I immediately turned my attention to what I figured was her best bet for survival - a spirit - and given that I need all the help I can get right now, water is the obvious choice - the friends of the Daughter of the Sea have always been more willing to help me than the other kinds.

I let out a series of sounds, from the world of the sea itself - like a mixture of dolphin and whale song. (Having sonar myself means I can handle making some noises like that). I reached threads of mana out towards the plane of water, and I felt one catch a spirit, and I pulled on that thread while I let the others go slack. I pulled the spirit through, and it awaited my instructions.

She had pushed something into my hands along with the jacket and scarf - the folder, I'm guessing, not that I can tell with all this smoke. I pushed all three towards the myomer pack. I'm not sure how fast it will absorb them, but I have to get them all. Can't risk leaving evidence or material links behind.
OOC:

Complex:
Summon Spirit (Water, Force 3): 11d6t5 4 vs Spirit Summons Resist: 3d6t5 2 (I get +2 dice(I'm guessing dice? It just says +2) from mentor spirit)

Really, what are the odds the spirit gets two hits on 3 dice?

Drain Resist (4 Drain): 13d6t5 2 Or that I only get two hits on thirteen dice for the resistance? I now have 4 stun and -1 condition monitor penalty.
Free: Reactive Myomer Pack (Put Away Item(s?) - If you'll allow it to put away all three in a free, go for it - otherwise I'll just have to keep using free for that.)

Friday 12 June 2075 0104 Hot Taco Touristville Seattle


The cover of the smoke begins dissipating almost as soon as it forms, but the diner is small and it stays around for an extra bit of time. The crush of people trying to leave might help Renee as well, but you lose sight of her in the smoke and confusion. You also do not hear any shots from the pistol guy near the door, and that could be a good sign. The spirit takes the form of a mermaid and waits your instructions. You try to push your items into the sack, but find that you can do the folder and scarf or the jacket, but not everything at the same time.



OOC: If your initiative is 14, you used two simple actions on the first IP and one complex action on the second. I will give you the jacket OR the folder and scarf as a free action this round and then a free action in the next combat turn. Roll initiative. There are two apparent enemies; one at the door and a sniper.

I immediately asked the spirit - "Can you engulf the man with the pistol near the doorway until he's knocked out, and then find & knock out the sniper? Thank you very much."

As the folder and scarf were pulled into the myomer pack, I pushed the jacket into the bag.

Next, tracking Renee - Astral sight might let me get an idea of where her aura was, though it was still unlikely to find her. I focused and the world shifted, smoke fading out some to reveal a whirlwind of colored emotions and auras. The pandemonium left an emotional residue, seeming to give the whole place a bit of bright color.

OOC:
Free Action: Jacket into Myomer bag.
Simple Action: Command Spirit
Simple Action Shift Perception (Astral Sight)

Init Roll: 8+1d6 13 Not entirely clear on how the stun condition modifier works with init, so feel free to correct as needed.

For my own reference in the next few posts: a magician can spend a Complex Action to reduce the time required for an astral signature to fade ( Core pg 312). Each complex action spent reduces the time by an hour.

Two questions that are about to be really relevant - does summoning a spirit leave a temporary signature or only while the spirit lasts? Does the fact that an area where a spell took effect also has an astral signature leave a trail of sorts that could be followed to find Renee while I am sustaining the spell?

Friday 12 June 2075 0104 Hot Taco Touristville Seattle


The spirit grins at you. "Perhaps. At least I can distract him. I am not sure what you mean by sniper, though." It seems to flow away and materializes near the man at the door, who is trying to push people out of the way to get a visual on your table. There is no sign of Renee in the thinning crowd so maybe she got out. There is a struggle at the door as your spirit friend tries to engulf the man, but it looks like that is all you are going to get. He is clearly doing his best to avoid the watery ropes.


OOC:

Yes, you will leave a signature for F hours, but you can reduce that time by one hour for each complex action you devote to that process. Doing so would mean that you might delay your departure from the diner. I think that it will be difficult to follow her astral signature.

I didn't have time to explain to the spirit what a sniper was - next time I'll have to try "far-away rifle-shooter". I sneaked away from the table I had initially been speaking with Renee at, no sense in giving the sniper or pistol-man a good place to shoot at. Then I turned my attention to the astral signature - leaving it behind would give people, all with ill intent, a way to track me. I focused on the signature, imaging waves crashing against a shore and washing away a drawing in the sand.

OOC: I'm guessing that, dice wise, the spirit's having trouble with the melee attack for engulf?

Because otherwise it's a lot of repeated posts, I'd suggest we assume that Hikari is continuing to wipe her astral signature until it's gone, unless an event occurs that would justify her reaction. (i.e. sniper shot, pistol guy takes a shot at her, police sirens showing up, spirit disrupted. )

Free Action: Move
Complex Action: Wipe Astral Signature

Prior roll in log forgot penalties for stun and astral perception. Sneaking: 7d6t5 2. Which stinks, because the other roll was way better.

Friday 12 June 2075 0104 Hot Taco Touristville Seattle


As you clear your signature from the astral, you observe that your spirit is indeed having a bit of trouble with the man at the door, but at the same time, the man is not really making any progress against the spirit. The way would be clear for you to race past the man.....................if it were not for the pesky sniper. Strangely enough, he has not fired after the initial shot. Has he left? Has he moved? Did he even see you to recognize you in the crowd of people outside the diner.

With my signature now cleared, I shifted out of astral perception and focused my attention the physical plane. I didn't have a way to track the sniper, but I took a good look out the window in case I could see the sniper somewhere as I began to run towards the door. My next goal is to get out of here before the police arrive, and then find Renee and get her (maybe myself to) into a safe-house.

OOC: Writing this post with the assumption that you took my suggestion of skipping otherwise repeated turns.

Init Roll: 8+1d6 11

Simple Action: Shift Perception: Astral -> Physical
Simple Action: Observe in Detail (Perception): 7d6t5 1
Free Action: Run

Is Seattle Lone Star, KE, or some other contractor right now? Just curious.

Friday 12 June 2075 0105 Hot Taco Touristville Seattle


The man at the door is too involved with your spirit to even notice you leaving the diner. Your quick look out the shattered window told you nothing about the sniper. You are sure that Renee fled into the crowd but she is nowhere in sight as you emerge. Several people wave you over to the apparent relative safety of the building across the street. One man calls out, "Hey! Over here. We have called KE and they are sending someone to see what is going on."

I continued running towards the end of the block, headed around the corner, dodging around a few pedestrians in route. I thought to the spirit, "You've held him off for long enough - you can return to the astral and follow me."

As I ran, I fired off a Matrix message to Jackie Talon: >>Meet went south, sniper tried to take out client. Can you track down a safe-house? She will likely need one if I can find her again, and I may need to join her. Do you have her comm code? I assume it may be compromised and I won't message her a meet location directly for that reason, but I have a few Matrix connections that might be able to track her down with it <<

I fired off a message to Deepdwelver as well: >>How much to track someone if I have their comm-code? I know that's a little outside your usual work, but I kind of need to right now. <<



OOC: Remember that I'm still wearing a chameleon suit, which was activated during the fight - people across the street wouldn't be likely to see me, unless they've got great eyesight - and thermal won't help because the suit has thermal dampening. Ultrasound/astral aura are really the only things likely to give a clue. Even if they saw something it wouldn't look much like me with the suit on. Assuming we are out of combat now. And that invisibility spell on Renee is still being sustained via focused concentration, by the way.

Friday 12 June 2075 0105 Hot Taco Touristville Seattle


The spirit lets the man loose and returns to the astral, following you as you head down the block.

>>Hikari [Jackie Talon]: Sounds like you have been quite busy. I will keep my ear to the scanners and news feeds to see what is being said. Are you alright? I have her com code and will send it to you.<<

>>Hikari [Deepdweller]: You are correct about that being a bit out of the norm for me, but I have a bit of free time. Send me the code and I will see what I can do. Just find this person and notify you or......?"



OOC:

Actually, unless we are reading two different descriptions of the chameleon suit, it really only gives you +2 to your limit and +2 to sneaking if wireless. I am also pretty sure that the effect is less than perfect if you are moving, and even less if you are running, because the sensors do not have time to keep up with the changing background as you walk or run. Some one else with a good bit of luck or really good eyes/ears might also find you. Somebody saw something and somebody called out to you, but it does not seem to be a case of someone following you, so the suit works. Not perfectly, but it works.

>>Jackie Talon [Hikari] I'm fine, but need that comm code fast. <<

>>Deepdwelver [Hikari] Active tracking until we're sure the target is safe. Bonus points if you find and brick a sniper rifle, and maybe get some info from the PAN it's connected to, but those are lower priority. .<<

I took shelter behind the corner of the street - more likely to be further away. . I shifted my goggles into place, switching them into thermal vision - a little better in case the sniper is still around- there could even be more than one, come to think of it.

Friday 12 June 2075 0108 Outside the Hot Taco Touristville Seattle


>>Hikari [Deepdweller]: Got the code and will try, but you need to know that this is a very long shot. I will let you know what I can do<<

From your vantage point, you do not see a sniper emerge from hiding, nor do you see the pistol man. There are a number of people hiding behind cars and in doorways, though, one of whom seems to be looking in your general direction for a few seconds before shrugging and turning his gaze back to the diner.


OOC:

How long are you going to stay there?

I thought about it for a second, >>Deepdwelver [Hikari]Even if you can verify that the comm isn't compromised and secure the line for a few minutes, that would work for what I need. Any idea how long this will take?<<

Noticing that someone had spotted me, I decided to sneak and shift my cover just a bit once the one who shrugged looked away. I moved behind a car, parked near the corner.
OOC: How long Hikari stays will probably depend on how long the trace/verification takes. If it's going to take a few minutes, she'll decide now would be a good time to disappear from the scene.

It's Deepdwelver, not Deepdweller. No biggie.
Sneaking: 9d6t5 4

Friday 12 June 2075 0108 Outside the Hot Taco Touristville Seattle


>>Hikari [Deepdwelver]: It will take about five minutes to set up what I need and even then it might not work. I will get back to you.<<

You are able to shift your position without anyone noticing.

With a wait time like that, best to move away from the scene. I want to be at least a few blocks away before the cops arrive.

I began to sneak away - keep your head low when you can hide behind parked cars, don't move to fast when you can't. If a pedestrian is too close, freeze. I don't want to leave much more evidence of where I am. After I got about two blocks away, I started looking for a secure spot to meet with Renee - if she could get somewhere, then I'd need a safe spot from which to get her to a safehouse. That, and a ladies room or an alley that wasn't too dark where I could decloak my suit would be a nice touch.

OOC:
Sneaking: 9d6t5 1 Well, at least it's not a glitch.
Area Knowledge (Seattle): 6d6t5 3 In case I could remember any such spots.

Feel free to supersede this post a little if something should have happened.

Friday 12 June 2075 0112 Somewhere in Touristville Seattle


It is easy to avoid the people wandering about, most of them heading up towards the Hot Taco to try to see what all the fuss is about. From a narrow alleyway, you can hear the sirens of approaching KE cars. No one seems to have noticed you as you made your way here and the only other person nearby is a passed-out drunk just around the corner on the street.

>>Hikari [Jackie Talon]: Hey, the girl answered my call. I told her that you are looking for her. She is on the move and sounds half crazed. Do you want to meet and where?<<

I stayed cloaked in the alley for now. With that message I would need to move soon. Have to stay fluid, like the river - adapt to the changing currents around me. That's a key to dealing with situations like this.  

>>Jackie Talon [Hikari]: I'm still worried that her comm may be compromised. I've got a decker working on that issue. Keep her on the line and calm, don't let her say where she is just yet. Tell her to find a place a few blocks away and stay put, I'll come to her as soon as it's safe to do.. Check if the cloak I put on her is working.  If she wants to you can transfer the call to me. <<

>>Deepdwelver [Hikari]: Focus on the secure line aspect instead of the trace. That's what I need now. And how much for this by the way?<<

My instincts made me check the drunk for a pulse. Even if there was little I could do for him, I could feel the Daughter encouraging my compassion. 

OOC: Trying a new external BBCode editor - posts may look a little funky for a while as I get this down. May suggest it to the forum guy if it's not to hard to change out. EDIT: For reference, this is post 24.

Friday 12 June 2075 0112 Somewhere in Touristville Seattle


>>Hikari [Jackie Talon]: I am on a compromised line and you want me to keep her? Some friend you are. I am transferring her to you and getting off the line. ~~~~~ OK, Renee. Stay calm. Hikari is on the line and I am dropping off. Luck to you<<

>>Hikari [Renee]: Hello? Are you the girl from the diner? Are you alright? I am fragging frightened out of my gourd. You're the professional; what should I do?<<

The man is still breathing and seems to be passed out on the street.

>>>Jackie Talon [Hikari]: Might be, might be. I'm just being paranoid, have to assume it's possible, because of all the unknowns in this situation. And use the street name next time, especially on a possibly insecure line!<<< I fired off a text after she had shut off her line. You'd think an experienced smuggler would know at least bit about Matrix security. Apparently not! 

I answered Renee:>>> Yes, it's me, I'm fine. First, stay calm. A level head will keep you alive. Second, get to a location that looks safe, but don't repeat it's location until I tell you that this line is secure. We'll get you to a safehouse as soon as we can. Is the cloak I gave you holding - can anyone see you? Did the sniper-shot injure you?<<<

Mentally, I made a note to ask her what "frightened out of my gourd" was supposed to mean. That's an English phrase I haven't heard before. Problem with not being a native speaker. 

>>>Deepdwelver [Hikari]: Don't mean to rush you, but any word on the security of the line? <<<


OOC: I'm guessing that my karma count is
24 / 2 posts in topic = 12
Starter: 5 or 6 from OP char info.
4 karma from OP posts to add contacts.
-1 to mark Kyra as family
Total: 23 or 24?
That should be enough to spend on a flex sig initation, and leave me with 10 or 11 karma. (I guess you should be the one to decide if that's 2 or 3 from my background on OP?) If you need IC justification for picking that up, let me know, but keep in mind that I'll want to pick up centering just a few posts down the line - probably 10 or 12 to be exact?

Nuyen from posting is probably at 24000 (Dumpshock) plus 8000 from adding contacts to OP. Not yet sure if I want to spend that on the bike, an RPC lined coat and scarf plus an ultrasound generator, some B&E tools, or save it for some really fancy RPC Hardened Milspec (100,000 or so). Hikari doesn't hesitate to spend signifigant amounts on good armor.

~~~