IC: Into the Barrens..., ... and out again with luck Options

[Shadow]

A million dollars cash. That was what the ransom had stipulated, and that was what the Johnson had put together. That and 40k worth of Shadowrunners to ensure that his little girl got home in one piece.

The money was requested to be delivered in cash, UCAS dollars to be exact. The denominations of non sequential $20 bills. Needless to say the to large suitcases that were half full of said bills dominated the rich lacquer coffee table in the middle of the Johnson’s home.

There were three men there besides him. One was a banker, obvious from his middle management suit and his complete nervousness around the money. The other was the Johnson’s son, a sullen teenage boy named Jack who hadn’t spoken word one to any of you. But occasionally could be seen gawking at Mirage.

The last was the Johnson’s personal Body Guard. A very large, very powerful looking black man named ‘Gregor’. He didn’t speak much but gave each of you a professional nod of respect.

The job was simple in its execution. The kidnappers wanted the money delivered by midnight to Anderson park, neck deep in the Barrens and dead center in disputed gang territory. The Johnson, who’s real name was Fredrick Bowles, had acquired 2 generic black SUV’s with concealed armor and contingency controls. The convoy was to make its way to the Barrens with the you in the lead, and the Johnson in the back. The money would be with Fredrick and Gregor.

Once at the park, you would secure the area and wait for the kidnappers to show. If all went to plan the money would be exchanged for the girl. At that point he would pay you the 40k (to be divided amongst each of you) and you would call it a night.

However; if the kidnappers did not exchange for the girl, or in any other way did not live up to the bargain, you were to track them down, kill them and retrieve the money and or the girl.

You had all seen the picture of the girl. 21, sweet, with the good looks god gave her. Her Scandinavian decent was obvious in her blond hair and blue eyes. She was a prize by any standards. But at the moment she was just Fredrick’s little girl, and he wanted her back.

“How much longer Hanz,” Fredrick said to the banker.

“The last delivery should be arriving shortly. I must protest again Fredrick. These men,” his tone, and the little gesture he gave with is hand tells you exactly what he means.

“Are not necessary, call the police, call the FBI, surely they can help.”

“I like you Hanz, you have been a good family friend, but please, trust me in this matter.”

[Chance359]

Caden looks over the assembled group, the Johnson, his meatshield, the bank, and the runners. Looks like a standard party crew.

"I hate to bring this up, but all I have is a bike, someone have a spot for me?" After waiting for a reply, "The name's Caden by the way."

[Morgannah]

Indigo shifted against the wall, her arms crossed casually across her chest as she watched the suits across the room wondering how, exactly, Dex had found out about this. She bared her teeth to the banker in what might have passed for a smile.

Men. Low-life fragging suits.

Holding back a low, sinister laugh, she was suddenly glad to be wearing the tight vest with her leathers; there weren't many things that made her look more disreputable and if that insulting piece of drek banker was uncomfortable now .... There was a soft metallic grate as a single glittering blade extended from the tip of her finger to trim a stray thread from the hem of a fingerless glove. Her "smile" widened.

"Sounds like the suits want us riding in the first car, Caden. What do you think of that?"

The group of runners, at least, looked promising. 'Cept maybe for the fancy broad, she considered, more cred for the rest of us if she gets herself skragged, I guess.

[Fortune]

Dex can't help but surreptitiously cast the occasional glance at the suitcases of money as he listens to the Johnson lay out his plan. It was an unthinkable amount, more than the ex-ganger had ever imagined he'd see in one place at one time. Maintaining his silence as he mulls over the various details and possible consequences of the job, he smiles slightly as he catches sight of Indigo's posturing.

Dex knew the razorgirl's capabilities quite well, and the rest of the group looked adequate enough for the task at hand. Dex couldn't help wondering why the Johnson was so ready to part with the cash though. It would be just as easy to include the money's recovery after the swap as part of the job, for a slightly higher fee of course. There had to be more here than they were being told, and that worried the young shaman.

[Ecclesiastes]

Cougar kept to the back of the room, keeping an eye on things. He was happy that the group he was stuck with this time seemed to know what they were about. He smirked at Indigo as she teased the banker. Chick acts like she's more a troll than I am.

"When are we headin' out?"

[Shadow]

The banker looks up from his conversation with Fredrick.

"When all the money has arrived,"

Fredrick cut the man off.

"Cougar, right? About fifteen minutes, I appreciate your patience." The man said with a smile.

[Raiko]

Mirage looked around the room, they seem competent enough, it's going to be a tight squeeze in that SUV though.

She turned her attention to the Johnson, he doesn't move in the circles that you would expect someone with his wealth to move in, and the banker is probably right, the Feds would move heaven and earth to help the likes of him. There must be more to this than meets the eye.

[Chance359]

Caden checks his watch, "We should probably assume that the kidnappers will already have assets in place watching the park. Perhaps one or two of us should depart early and setup surveilence over as much of the area as possible? Anyone good with a long gun?"

[Morgannah]

Indigo let out a low animal growl that might have been a chuckle and shook her head, keeping her eyes on the banker and his suitcases full of money.

"Nah, I'm more you're up close and personal kinda man."

She tilted her glasses down to glance meaningfully at the single razor coming out of her index finger. Silver reflected off silver before the shades slid back into place.

"But I will ride beside the big black coffins to convince the 'locals' to stay away."

[Shadow]

"I will of course differ to your professional judgment, but I must insist no action be taken that could lead to the demise of my daughter. The kidnappers insisted that I not attempt anything that could be misconstrued as an ambush. If you are confident that you could not be detected under any circumstances, by all means do it, otherwise I think it would be best if we arrived as a group in the specified manner and at the specified time."

He pauses for a moment, his eyes flicker up as if he is looking inward.

"We have to leave in the next three minutes, is the money ready?"

Hanz looked up, his perpetual scowl firmly in place. "Yes it is, I wish I could talk you out of this nonsense. She's not worth."

The chilling glare from Fredrick cut the mans words short.

"Not another word Hanz, not another word. Gregor, the bags."

The large man heft each of the bags in a hand and proceeded to the door. The two black SUV's were parked side by side. The tinted armor plast windows reflected the porch light from the Brownstone.

The house was located in the hills just south of Seattle. A protected neighbor hood with armed security and high electrified fences. The hedges of each home were immaculately kept by the latest in automated gardening as were the lawns and trees.

[Raiko]

Mirage leads the way towards the SUV's, putting on her designer shades as she says, "So, do any of you guys fancy taking the wheel, or do I have the honour?"

She stops and smiles, "By the way, do we all have encrypted comms? If we split up we should at least make sure that one person in each group has a secure radio."

Her English is clear and precise, but with a noticeable French accent.

[Ecclesiastes]

Cougar grunted at Hanz's comment and glared at the man. Who does this fragger think he is? He better lean his role and shut the hell up before we have to do it for him.

"Lets do this then."

Grabbing the black bag at his feat, the big troll heads out the door and takes shotgun in the front SUV. Reaching down into the bag he placed at his feat, he pulls out a shotgun, a SPAS-22 with an attached underbarrel grenade launcher and a hefty gas vent.

"I've got a comm unit, lets synch up on channel 576.398."

[Chance359]

Caden shakes his head at Hanz's comment. Somethings are more important than money.

Mythodically Caden removes his black tactical vest and M-23 carbine from his duffel, strapping the vest and rolling his shoulders to test the feel. He then loads both the rifle itself and the underbarrel mini-grenade launcher, then clips the carbine to the vest.

Checking that his radio to make sure he's on the correct channel. "Alright ramblers, lets ramble." As he takes the seat behind Cougar.

[Ecclesiastes]

Cougar turns in his seat to address Caden, "Caden right? You can call me Cougar. This is just a suggestion, but why don't you sit behind the driver, that way we have a grenade launcher on each side of the truck in case things get real ugly."

[Chance359]

Caden shrugs, and slides over. "Atleast I'm not riding bitch."

[Morgannah]

"Heh."

Indigo gives the banker one last look before turning around on her heel and stalking out of the well-maintained house, pulling a long, black cord from her back pocket and positioning the transceiver in her right ear.

"Indigo on channel five-seven-six-dot-three-nine-eight. Now that the kiddies are in the back, how do we want to do this?"

She crosses the street with long, easy strides and shrugs into the black leather duster slung over the seat of her bike, the image of a spiked mace on a neon purple shield is emblazoned on the back of the jacket as well as the airbrushed helmet hanging from one side of her banshee. The torqued engine roars to life before finally settling into a low, contented purr as she waits for confirmation.

"Looks like you're driving, Lady."

[Fortune]

Quiet up till now, Dex finally speaks up as the group gathers around the SUV.

"Don't look at me to be doing the drivin'. I don't know my way 'round anything with more'n two wheels. 'Sides, I'm not convinced that it's a good idea all of us ridin' together in the first place. A couple of outriders couldn't hurt, 'specially that deep in the Barrens."

He pauses and looks around at the others, taking note of their various preparations. Dex smiles as Indigo's bike roars to life as if in agreement with his last statement.

"Oh, and I ain't got no radio."

[Raiko]

"Shouldn't be a problem as long as you're with Indigo."

Mirage double checks her weapons before climbing into the SUV's driving seat. Her gold plated Manhunter has a full clip of double EX rounds, while her tiny MGL-6 grenade launcher is loaded with air-timed concussion grenades for now.

Using her transducer she communicates mentally through her TacComm unit, "Comms check, this is Mirage on channel 576 decimal 398, over."

[Shadow]

Mirage spends a few minutes adjusting the seat. The large SUV with its reinforced bucket seats seems to shadow the smallish French woman like a giant. She moves the seat all the way forward, then all the way up, the tilts it forward some more before she can see above the wheel.

Once the team is ready Gregors booming voice echoes over the radio built into the two trucks.

"Alright, keep to the speed limit and don't get to far ahead. Let's roll."

The powerful engine of the SUV rumbles to life. Taking the lead Mirage guides the truck out onto the street. Despite its size it handles remarkably well.

[Fortune]

Dex swings a leg over his Harley Scorpion and kicks the big bike's engine to life. Flashing a wink at Indigo, the shaman pulls out just behind the first SUV.

[Morgannah]

A genuine smile, and not a bad one at that, sneaks across her features as she winks back at Dex, slipping into the gap between the SUVs as well. As irritating as it was to cruise at such a low speed, the promise of a bit of action later was more than enough to tide her over. Once the roads opened up, Indigo had every intention of spreading their formation out a bit, riding to one side of their little train as opposed to in the middle of it.

"Hey," she speaks into her transceiver but loudly enough for Dex to hear her as well, "what do we know about the 'Park, anyway? Or the kidnappers?"

[Raiko]

Mirage lets the SUV's autonav handle most of the work as she drives the vehicle towards Redmond, allowing her to concentrate on possible threats on the road ahead.

She also constantly monitors the scanner routed through her pocket secretary into one of her datajacks, hoping that a radio transmission may betray any ambush or trail before visual contact is made.

[Shadow]

The motorcycle led convoy rolls out of the gated community and heads east on 9th avenue. The surface streets are still alive with traffic, both vehicular and foot.

It take only a few minutes for the convoy to hit the onramp to Intercity five, the onboard computer suggests the 'North On-ramp'. The south bound lanes are jammed with commuters trying to get home. The northbound are relatively light as the large vehicles cruise through traffic.

Indigo and Dex open the space up between them and the convoy some. The street signs say the turn off to SR520 is two kilometers ahead when Indigo and Dex hear the first sign of trouble. Up ahead of the pair the loud and distinctive sound of large motorcycles can be heard moving toward them. The Inner city tunnel is just a hundred meters ahead and the enclosed concrete seems to be amplifying the sound.

[Fortune]

Dex instictively slows as he hears the roar of the oncoming bikes. Luckily this section of the road itself is quite straight, and after quickly checking on his partner's reaction, the shaman concentrates for a moment, calling on the city itself for aid in concealing the pair from the still unseen threat.

[Morgannah]

Indigo might have been a half second later hearing the motorcycles approaching (she was still grumbling about being ignored earlier) but she was just as quick to slow down alongside Dex. Seeing that he was doing something but not entirely sure what it might be, she growled something about "crazy magic stuff" and called into her transceiver.

"Indigo here. It sounds like some fraggers on big bikes are crowding up the road ahead and coming this way. Dex and I can check it out now unless you kids want to play too. Tell the suits to slow down until we know what's up there."