New York Noir, game thread Options

[Backgammon]

Jason wrapped his long coat against himself. It was a humid night, fog clinging low to the ground. He hoped Sean was alright. Vagabond and his crew were gearing up. They moved efficiently and silently. It was the silence that betrayed the tension in the air. Vagabond was upset. His crew followed him without question, but Jason could tell they had reserves about this. The information Sean had sent wasn’t good. Rita wasn’t goo. Vagabond did not take that well.

The Neo-Anarchists locked and loaded their Kalashnikovs and adjusted their gas masks. They grabbed a few more things and headed out with purpose. Jason huddled along behind them. Going along seemed rather dangerous, but he couldn’t leave Sean behind, and he didn’t know what else to do, Ancestors watch over him.

The orks acting as bouncers exchanged nervous glances as the three armed militiamen advanced towards the front door. From what the detectives had gathered before, the drugmen and the Neo-Anarchists had an agreement of mutual blindness. The orks could see trouble when they saw it, but their slow minds weren’t so good at knowing what to do in this case.

“Lemme in.” Vagabond stated his voice a dull echo from the gas mask’s leather.

“Well we gonna have to check with…”started slowly one of the two bouncers. The brains of the operation, certainly.

“Let me in” Vagabond repeated himself. This time he extended his rifle at the bouncer’s face. His men instinctively raised their weapons in unison behind him.

The bouncers raised their hands. They said soothing things like “take it easy” and “you the boss” as they slowly backed into the darkened doorway. The Neo-A watchmen followed them in, weapons shouldered in a practised rifleman’s stance. Jason closed his eyes a moment and asked for guidance from the Spirits.

The doorway gave in to a large sort of room. The apartment building had been gutted long ago, and looked as if rebuilt by drunken ants. Water-rotten wood mingled with plywood, cinderblocks and other salvaged materials to make new walls and rooms. A main stairway ran straight up from the middle of the room to a hole in the ceiling, up to the second floor. While the two goons Vagabond had at gunpoint looked ready to soil themselves, if they hadn’t already, there were far more guards inside that jumped up from lazy positions to fumble weapons out and back up against cover.

“WHERE IS RITA?” yelled Vagabond. “WHERE IS SHE?”

AK and Jack, Vagabond’s loyal men, barked orders at the guards to lower their weapons. The guards yelled back for them to lower their weapons.

The first shot came from a skinny looking ork. He actually dropped his gun and it went off. Jason distinctly remembers that detail. But once that happened, he was too busy hitting the deck to notice other details. Vagabond’s men open fire with their high-powered rifles. Up close like that, it’s not really like on the trid. In about four seconds, several dozen full metal jacket rounds shot right through the guards, splattering blood on the walls behind them. The floor they were on was not a problem on account of all the guards being dead in a few seconds. The floor above however quickly returned fire and threw up a barricade to the floor above rather rapidly. Well, the Neo-Anarchists were known for their ideological zeal, not their tactical genius. The militiamen fired long deadly bursts of automatic fire up the stairs, while the guards rained down suppressive fire back at them.

Jason left his flesh behind and entered the world of Spirits. It almost hurt when he jumped into the Astral realm. Like jumping into a frozen river when you expected it to be room temperature. The Astral was soiled, tainted, streaked with current of foul corrosive blackness. Jason pushed through anyway, like swimming in tar. He found Sean. He was carrying Rita with him, though he was stuck behind the barricade, on the floor above. Sean told him to tell Vagabond to make a hole for him, so he did. He dropped back into his body and yelled at Vagabond that Sean was above. Vagabond nodded and he and his men started a pushing advance, though the guards were making things hard for them.

Suddenly, it all went wrong. The first sign was heavy machine gun fire erupting from a hidden nest in one of the buildings down the street. Jason had time to hope backup was coming, before the shell hit the building. The blast hit the second floor and made a whole section tumble down. After that, it didn’t stop. The streets opened up from everywhere. One of Vagabond’s men was already crouching near the doorway, peeking out, when Jason joined him. A large column of huge armoured truck was snaking down the street, dozens of heavily armoured men in blue-grey camo patterns with assault rifles firing up the buildings. Explosions went off further away, fireballs visible rising above the buildings. Jason saw two small crafts roar by on afterburners, metal tubes detaching from underneath them to, for a moment, slowly tumble in the sky, until the hit some ramshackle apartment build where machinegun fire was coming out of the windows. The building exploded in a puff of concrete dust.

Vagabond and his men were shouting into comms, sporadically firing some rounds up the stairs to keep the orks at bay, but now much more worried about the solider in the streets.

Jason hadn’t realized he was frozen until AK – or was it Jack – shook him by the shoulder. “YOU HAVE TO GO” he yelled at him, pointing across the street to an alley.

“Not without Sean!” he yelled back. Jason couldn’t fell the vibration of his own throat as he spoke over the roar of gunfire and explosions. He thought for a moment he’d gone mute.

Jason peered out into the street again, and he saw him. There was Sean. He was hustling, Rita wrapped in a drape over his shoulders. He was trying to make it in-between two immobile armoured carriers, but Jason could see several soldiers right on the other side. “No!” Jason tried yelling. He ran out into the street towards him. He focused his thoughts to order the revered spirit of guidance he knew he could call on, but the air was knocked out of him as he was tackled from behind. A great explosion erupted behind him and a curtain of dust and brick chunks fell over him like a waterfall. Flat against the ground, he lost sight of everything. After the shower of debris ended, the weight removed itself from him. Vagabond spun him around to face him. “We’ve lost this area. We have to fall back. Come with me”

Jason looked back to where he’d last seen Sean. He was there no longer, but there were plenty of soldiers.

“He’s gone! Go. Now!” yelled Vagabond, pushing him forward and hustling next to him. They beelined for the alley. From there on, Vagabond talked intermittently into his comm.. The messages back were full of static, but Jason understood the general idea. MDC affiliated forces had punched into Neo-Anarchist territory and shocked and awed everyone there.

Jason and Vagabond made their way in silence through dark alleys until the sounds of automatic fire and explosions were just an echo.

The MDC had finally gone insane and invaded the Pit. A wrathful Mafiosi wanted to kill him. His partner, along with the only lead for their current investigation were now, what? Dead? In custody?

Jason stopped waling and slumped against the wall.

“Spirits guide me”.

[Redjack]

Searching for the Spirit, Part #2
[ Part #1 ]

It was a balmy, sunny day in the heart of the Big Apple.... Nah, it was a dreary March afternoon in Rotten Apple when we stepped out of the crate. I should have know how the night would end when I started the afternoon in a box, everything coming in cycles and all. We had arrived in the desolate hell hole aptly named The Pit.

Kenya escorted us to the marketplace before wondering off to do whatever it is she does. The next hour is spent in fruitless conversations asking vendors whether they have seen Rita. Happenstance being as it is, we bumped into the NeoA Terminus who suggests we meet him later at La Voltus; The largest club in the lower east side.

While we sit, sipping a cup of nasty, but hot, soykaf the various drug deals going down creates a duh moment. A few conversations later and we are directed to the Den of Vice at the north edge of The Pit. Given the distance, the walk will be over an hour and a half; No cabs here, we set out on foot.

Never a dull moment, Rocko calls while we are walking. Nick Fitopolus, Calista's husband and the guy who needed a lesson in humility at the Mission, is a notorious made-man from Brooklyn. He has a short temper and likes to hurt people... and he's gunning for me and has figured out who I am. Rocko says to meet him at Donny's in Neon City at 8pm. Great, more complications.

When we finally reach the Den, they're not open yet. We do meet a group of NeoA watching the place though. The leader is Vagabond, who just happens to be Rita's brother. After hanging with them a bit one of Vagabond's lieutenants, AK, leads us to the Village. The actual crossing is through the interconnecting basements of two buildings.

We no more than cross over and our IDs fail. Luckily, I have the spoof chip from Lenny and am able to get us back in business after a detour.

We then grab a cab and head for Neon City. During that ride another call comes in. This time its Lenny. "Go to 78 19th street in Stuvesant 9:00-10:00pm and do whatever is asked." Since he has a hot com loaded for hacking hanging as bait, how can I refuse?

We arrived at Donny's a few minutes early and blend in, grabbing a drink before finding Rocko at the bar. He leads us to the back room where he explains that Nick Fitopolus is after me. Rocko tells me to lie low and not to call him; He will call me.

Enough intrigue yet? Surely not even close yet.

[Redjack]

Searching for the Spirit, Part #3
[ Part #1, Part #2 ]

Wasn't this run to locate a missing free spirit? Which run? The one that precipitated the need to find Rita. Not the one to save Calista and her kid from Nick Fitopolus, which not only doesn't pay anything but also makes him want to kill me. Not the one for Lenny in Stuvesant.

We blew forty minutes at Donny's waiting for our window to get into Stuvesant. Lenny had said that our ID's would clear between seven and eight. After a choice to simply milk my drink, rather than get loaded (which I would later regret), we jumped into a cab and made our way into the gated, patrolled high-brow neighborhood of Stuvesant.

The Johnson is an older gentleman in condo. Jason stayed with the cab while I get the details. He starts with an offer of old scotch. Knowing that this run would never get completed if I started, I decline. Another decision I will later regret. The old man has a delicate rep. His son has gone missing, no contact for three days. The son needs to be located without word that he'd gone missing. Then begins the question and answer part of the game:
- Porvides a list of friends, pictures, com code.
- Kid has a permit for Mind Bender drugs
- Misc trouble: fights, vandalism, etc.
- Last seen 3 nights ago
- Not disappeared before. Most time gone previously is two days, 1 night. At a friends. No friends claim him presently.
- Nothing out of ordinary before disappearance. No arguments of merit, etc.
- Cred withdrawal just prior to disappearance, but not of extra ordinary amount.
- Do not contact father. Work updates through Lenny.

As the cab leads us towards the Village, I confirm with Lenny (Who knew before Johnson did that he needed us) that the run is straight up. During the ride, the cab is rerouted around the north edge of the Pit due to police activity. We see a pair of city masters rolling south. After being dropped off in the Village, we retrace to the crossing point and return to The Pit.

Arrival at Den of Vice is just after 9:30. In short order, I determine that Rita is there. Costs 100 nuyen to 'get time' with Rita, who is 'working off a debt'. A quick call to Vagabond sets everything in motion; Of course he'll come crashing in to get his sister. Working our way down from the 6th floor, passed out nearly-naked Rita in a fireman's carry, I start by knocking out the guard that floor. By the fifth, gunfire can be heard and junkies are everywhere. Using this to my advantage, yelling fire and whatever, I start a junky stampede that lasts until the troll guard on the 2nd floor; The guards are holed up there (2 trolls, 3 orks).

Hesitation is a bitch. While trying to figure an angle past the fire-fight on the stairs, the ork from the sixth arrives. Hauling ass across the second, chased by gunfire I hit the end of the line: A boarded up window. Seems I'm not the only one eying this window as the security forces in city masters out front blow out that wall of the building. Somehow I manged to get through the mess, my vest and form fit absorbing the impact.

Running, running, shots all around. Duck between the city masters... and right into rifle barrel. Scooped up and tossed into the back by three goons. Yes, I'm faster than that; Some days fate is a bitch...

And here I am.... Back in another damn box....

[Backgammon]

It looks like I'm going to be doing some OT on Tuesday, so a game looks unlikely. I think we may drop to next week for our next game.

[Redjack]

Next Tuesday will be bad for me.

[Backgammon]

Yeah we have Thursdays too in theory. I don't know right now when exactly we'll have another game, my schedule is in overdrive mode.

However, in the meantime, you can take those 2 hours we were supposed to play and work on your Russia campaign! No excuses now, muahaha!

[Backgammon]

Ok, back to sane mode. Can you play Thursday?

Tarantula, how's your computer situation? You guys are separated in-game now, so whenever you can I have a solo part for you too.

[Redjack]

I'm not thinking I will be able to make it, but this could give Tarantula a chance to catch up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Tarantula]

Sorry guys, between computer and new job getting scheduling ironed out, and a new girlfriend, things have been busy for me. Settling down now, tuesdays/thursdays are good, and should be good for the forseeable future. Somehow dumpshock always forgets to notify me when there are posts in this thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif) I'll try to resubscribe and see if that fixes it.

[Backgammon]

I've got an opening this Thursday, so we can play then.

[Tarantula]

Sounds good to me. Looks like my notifications are working again too.

[Tarantula]

Sorry, forums went down, and i couldn't remember if we said this thursday or next thursday. Of course they're back up now though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif) Sorry again. I'm free for next thursday too if you want to do it then.

[Backgammon]

Still good for tonight? I will be online at around 7:45pm eastern

[Backgammon]

Ok, last minute cancel. I am still at work, with no sign of being able to leave, so no game tonight (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Redjack]

I just got home a bit ago.

-rp

[Redjack]

This week and next are pretty aped up for me.

[Backgammon]

I want to do Tarantula's solo first ideally, since it might influence your side of things.

Tarantula, I think I have Tuesday and Thursday open this week. Would either one of those work for you?

[Tarantula]

Tuesday I've got kickboxxing 730-830mst, thursday I should be completely free, with nothing popping up to cause issues.

[Backgammon]

Ok we're on for Thursday 8pm eastern.

[Backgammon]

Tarantula, confirming for tomorrow. Still good on my side.

[Tarantula]

Good here too!

[Redjack]

How did it go?

[Backgammon]

Good. Posting a little fiction resume is on my to-do list.

[Backgammon]

Dear Elsie,

I am sorry I haven’t been able to see you since this shit began. I am sorry that this letter is how you find out I’m even still alive. I have to keep my head down for now. I don’t want Command knowing I’m still up. I have to do some things on my own. Jack and AK were taken. I think Jack got shot. If the pigs took him, he might not have made it. Tell Joanna I am going after AK. I won’t let my men go down. Tell her not to worry; I’m going to get him back. The pigs also took Rita, my sister. I don’t think you’ve ever met her. She makes her way off-Island. She’s my sister.

There’s these guys I met. Sean and Jason. Private eyes, if you’ll believe that. They were looking for Rita in fact. Anyway, one of them got caught when they nabbed Rita. The other one, Jason, is with me. He’s deformed or some shit, but he’s a tough little bastard, and he’s got magic. Like I said, we’re going to get them all out from where the pigs got them. But we had to figure out where that was, first. I asked around, those I knew wouldn’t say anything to Command. They’d never approve this, Command. They’d tell me to get back to my post. But that’s now how we do it in the Guardians. We’re all volunteers, we do what we want. So fuck ‘em. But anyway, we thought it’d be easy to nab a pig officer in the rear and get him to tell us where the detention center is. Went alright, except Jason isn’t a fighter. He took two to the chest and I had to pull his ass out, so the pigs got away. I thought Jason was dead for sure, but he just coughed up after a while and got right back up. You shoulda seen his little ass run straight down the line to the pig van, though. That guy’s not afraid of anything.

Anyway, plan B was to get some snitches to talk. We knew up the grapevine that some snitches here were spying for the MDC. I get angry just thinking about it. They betray our brother and sisterhood like no other. Jason’s a private eye I said, right? So he found out where Jimmy Two-Toes was at, as some Russian casino. He’s got some pull the little guy, got the Russians to hand us Jimmy right up on a plate. Then Jason got to work on him. I think he used some more mojo. Got him talking in no time. The little shit admitted everything, and he knew where the center is. Jason said we were done with him, but I can’t close my eyes and not think of Jack and AK and my sister, and what the pigs done to us, and what they do every day. I killed Jimmy. Two shots. He shuddered a little and that was it. I think that was the right thing to do, baby. For the others. I hate traitors.

So now we in Manhattan, right outside the place. We ain’t armed too good, just some pistols and shit. Jason looks pretty cool, but I’m not sure. If there’s more than a couple of guys in there, I don’t think we’re gonna make it. I’m not afraid of dying. That’s why I’m a Guardian. I’m just afraid of failing. We’ve already lost so much, and I didn’t do so good as squad leader. I gotta TRY, Elsie. I hope you understand. I love you above all else, but I gotta do that. If I don’t make it back, tell them all I’m sorry.

I love you
-Vagabond.

[Backgammon]

Redjack, are you free for a game on this Thursday?