Heh, so last sunday (the one before this past one) we had a session and in it Aztlan forces were in a stand off with UCAS soldiers because of something they were transporting. Accidentally, I caused the vehicle transporting the object to crash into another vehicle because of messing with the traffic lights, causing a passing vehicle at an intersection to drive into the truck containing the object... Aztechnology forces came to retrieve it via helicopter, Swat showed up when Aztechnology forces arrived and the two got into a standoff and didn't fire shots... Until a block away, I shot down the helicopter with a lucky sniper shot at the rotor...

Yeah. Didn't think that one through.

The two forces started firing at each other like crazy. Was all over the news that night. If you were GM, what would the repurcussions be politically? Not just talking about my runner and his partners but for Seattle as a whole as well...

It wouldn't be war. The SWAT team would get sacked for improper handling of the situation, the city would apologize to AZT, and business would move on.

Was the cargo exposed as something that seriously cannot be allowed, evenby SR standards, I know that is implied by the timeline you laid out but I'm curious as to the exact nature, and are we talking Knight Errant or still usng Lone Star?

Either way they would be on public property (the roads) and subject to local law, in this case the UCAS military. Quite frankly, once it was determined that the shot was from some third party (was it?), my guess is that Horizon/Lone Star/KE would have evidence that the Azzies shot at the other troops first. The Azzies of course would produce evidence to the contrary and leaving the situation in question, with both sides saying it was the other guys fault. Two to three days later, it will be old news.

You're forgetting the Seretech Decision.

Also remember that the UCAS moved in on the arc because it was a danger to the public. Depending on what was in the truck, if the truck was clearly marked as Azzie property, and if the Azzies were in a running gunfight with someone on UCAS territory could all give the troops a reason to act.

SWAT =/= UCAS Army. If it was the Metroplex Guard, fine, but this sounds more like a LS/KE situation. If that's the case, it'll be an issue for the Corporate Court, if it ever gets to that point.

Ok I feel a bit better... ultimately though it was a gun fight between the two organizations in the middle of an intersection loaded with civilians (mostly in vehicles that were part of the crash). The way it went down was Swat (or military) showed up at the same time as the Azzie reinforcements did and everyone just kept eachother at gun point. The tablet was transferred to another vehicle that was in the convoy (3 unmarked trucks, 1 crashed previously, Azzies in the back got out and shot the hell out of the vehicle that rammed them... our fault again). After the tablet was transfered, I noticed the helicopter could see if it deviated from course so shot it down... Azzies thought UCAS/swat shot first and opened fire at them... UCAS/swat returned fire.

Could be 1914 all over again. One crazy-ass gunman starts a war.

Oh... and the boss of the Azzie reinforcements was a blood mage... idk what that says about it politically :-\

Yeah I'm in agreement with others that this is a corporate affair between LS/KE and Aztechnology. As such the Corporate Court would handle the situation. The UCAS be furious as hell because UCAS citizens died (which may be grounds for review of LS/KE contract) but they wouldn't go to war with Azland over it (politically Aztechnology and Azland are two different entities and as such the actions of one are legally not the actions of the other). They may go to the Corporate Court to ask for fines to be placed on Aztechnology for their over reactions (especially if it comes out that the boss was a blood mage). You can beat your salary that LS/KE are going to sue Aztechnology for all damages (real or not) for the losses they suffered, and if they don't get monetary reimbursement, they will take immediate shadow activity against Aztechnology to either discredit them in Seatle, or make them suffer for the situation. Heck even the city of Seatle may sue Aztechnology for the damages suffered to the city itself and make them clean up the mess from the whole incident.

It is an ugly mess politically but it won't lead to war.

Because of the unmarked trucks the Azzies have no legal leg to stand on. The whole situation makes them look bad. Firing upon law enforcement officers in the middle of a crowded intersection? They might have awesome PR but that's going to sting.

Who needs PR when 60% of what people buy from stuffer shacks comes from you? A lot of the stereotyped Azzy arrogance is justified by their sheer market presence. I would not be surprised if some of the other more media savvy megas (I'm looking at you Horizon) use this to their advantage.

Uh i hate to bring up geography and stuff like that but the UCAS and Aztlan don't touch. ya'll got the entire Confederacy between them.

Hey, Snowy, you gotta capitolize your colloquialisms when it's the first word after a period. Yer gonna make the Southerners mad at ya for making 'em loon undedumacated!

Resists the urge to copy over the lyrics to Trace Atkins' "Hold my beer"

God I hate country.

I was thinking about this last night and I'm thinking LS/KE would also get in hot water. Why was SWAT sent to a traffic accident? Was there major (ie LMG or larger) fired before the cops arrived?

Oh that was such the wrong thing to post around her. but she dioes have a point that there is a land mass between the Azzie's and the UCASians that is full of gun toting truck driving types with little love for either nation.

I'm reviewing Malbur's time line and it makes sense:
1. Azzie Truck is rammed by his crew (probably remotely piloted).
2. Azzie Protection Crew hops out and attacks ramming vehicle (endangering civs).
3. Lone star/KE/Metroplex Guard show up cause some loons in heavy armor an weapons are shooting up vehicles (note this would result in an HTR or similar type group), Azzie reinforcements show up as well.
4. Azzie's say this is out stuff were leaving. Lone star/KE/Metroplex Guard---says um no your staying, lay down your arms and surrender.
5. Azzie Chopper shows up. Azzie's transfer tablet to chopper and chopper takes off. Lone star/KE/Metroplex Guard--don't fire as they are just moving Azzie Property and quite frankly their boss and the Azzie boss are probably yelling at each other to back down (Lone star/KE/Metroplex Guard-is paralyzed by command being indecisive).
6.Malbur or one of his teammates shoots down the chopper.
7. Azzies start shooting, Lone star/KE/Metroplex Guard starts shooting...

More importantly did the runners make off with the goods or was getting it smashed up sufficient?

I miss living in Texas.




-k

Close but I wasn't especially clear... here's how it actually went:

1. 3 Azzie armored trucks leave airport transporting stone tablet in middle truck. All trucks have 5 guards in them.
2. Rear Azzie truck is rammed (mind control spell on driver) causing it to stop.
3. Guards jump out of back and open fire on the vehicle killing the driver. As other two vehicles continue driving
4. KE (i thought it was UCAS military, sorry for that mistake) sends forces to the scene as guys in heavy armor and weapons start firing at vehicles.
MEANWHILE: Second vehicle (one with the tablet) is rammed by vehicle as traffic lights were switched. Both vehicles stop (first vehicle outside the crash in the intersection).
5. Azzie chopper sent from their HQ with reinforcements to secure the area. Both Azzie chopper and KE forces show up at the same time. Nobody is shooting yet.
6. Tablet transfered from crashed vehicle to first vehicle and takes off, we start process to intercept it. Everyone else including helicopter stays at intersection in standoff
7. I shoot down helicopter with sniper rifle, Azzies start shooting thinking they are under attack. KE returns fire.
8. We hijack the last truck, kill everyone inside and grab the tablet before disappearing.

Ok that is a bit more clear and I can see the escalation now.

Yeah... but as a shadowrunner... Job security!

Said it before, will say it again. If was a Horizon PR guy I would be jumping all over this, especially with that timeline. I would be hiring runners to get an "independantly verified" feed of the azzies opening up on civilian vehicles, there would be interviews with terrified bystanders, discussions with sociology experts blaming this on Azzy arrogance and corruption. Timed over a week or two so the story has time to build up in the public eye of course, don't want to look like we are knee-jerking against the bastards....

I have to agree with Doc, UCAS doesn't even share a common board with AZ. Further AZ is much more concerned about keeping open one of it biggest markets. Whoever screwed the pooch on the drop would apologize and be transferred to the moral equivalent of Siberia (Or framed up). Whatever VP in A was in-charge gets a Stern talking to/opportunity to apologize depending on if they screwed up before. But short of AZ whole sale invading all of Denver, no way is that war gonna happen. If it did you can bet the court would handle it. If you had said AZ with PCC or CAS, i could buy that, their just looking for a reason, but even that probably wouldn't amount to anything more then a couple quick battles a couple months of skirmishing. Anything beyond that would bring court sanction.