Atlanta 2070, Hot time in the old town tonight Options

[Redjack]

The day had been busy for Tank. He'd met with Michael Richard's delivery man earlier and made the exchange. He'd also ground out the serial numbers from the platform after he and Book made the pickup. He grinned from ear to ear as he loaded up the drone. Never having owned such a piece of hardware before, he was excited to have it as a backup for the team.
---------------
As the duo silently drove through the dark and dreary night, Tank was actually optimistic. The nasty weather would keep the looky-loos's at home for the evening, further reducing their chances for getting caught. He wasn't to the point of whistling, but he was definitely in a good mood.

As they drove on Book found his thoughts straying to the elven woman, Melinda. It would not be good to allow her to monopolize my thoughts. The time to focus is now. Even as he began to focus, he wondered about the motivation to steal the statue. It will be extremely hard to fence. The goal must be to embarrass either the museum or the security company. Eventually he put the thoughts out of his head and instead, finally, began to focus on the plan. So many places for it to go wrong...
---------------
Eventually Tank pulls his vehicle up to the bus stop. He rolls down his window and leans out talking to the young ork. "407 north with transfers to poker parties and the museum..."

Once System loads up Tank engages the pilot program spins around in his captain's chair asks their hacker, "Rental van and trash truck all lined up?"

[ludomastro]

System Error grins from ear to ear at Tank's joke. He hops in the car and takes a seat. Looking at Tank he replies, Not a problem. Matter of fact, I rented two vans, three cars, and a 15 passenger bus. There is also a sizable donation to the rental manager's personal account. Let them try to sort all that out. He smiles and seems pleased with himself. I assume that we are going to the poker game first?

-----

Time passes as the auto-pilot takes them to the girlfriend's apartment. The previously bored security guards are still bored. They are no where to be found. Perhaps they are in the guard shack due to the weather?

[Redjack]

Tank considers the 15 passenger bus with a smirk. "You know.... Nah... We'll stick with the plan." He drives the crew past the car rental place so that System can remotely rig one of the vans. Then, with the van near behind, he drives to a parking garage where they can get a little privacy. There, they transfer the gear and the doberman to the rental van before Tank locks his vehicle and engages the security.

As the pull into the neighborhood and find the guards missing, Book's paranoia begins kick in. What the....? "I'll be back." With that, he leans back in the seat and his spirit steps out of his body and begins a little recon of the area.

[ludomastro]

Book is confronted with a brighter than normal light on the Astral. He takes a moment to realize that he is looking at the collective auras of all the people who are staying in tonight. There are several watchers floating here and there among the buildings just as before. The ward outside the girlfriend's apartment is still in place and now there are two spirits watching over it. One is an earth elemental in the form of a rock golem and the other is presumably a beast spirit as it is in the form of a giant panther.

[Redjack]

Book returns to his body, sitting up slowly with a look of determination. "The party is definitely on. The astral watch dogs are in place. Let's move down the block a bit.... Hopefully these guys aren't as paranoid as us."

Tank moves the rental van on down the street at a normal pace and locates a parking sport a block away. He then launches his fly-spy drone to get a better look of the area around the apartment building and locate the mage's car.

Book meanwhile sets a watcher inside the van to keep watch on them astrally. No sense advertising.... One that is completed, he performs another wide astral sweep then returns to his body. "They are fairly well protected astrally. Mundane appears to be the way to take him down."

[ludomastro]

With a far-away look in his eyes, System Error responds Yeah, I learned the hard way that your primary focus is great but it can get you killed if you rely on it alone.

-----

Book's second astral sweep doesn't turn up anything unusual.

-----

Tank finds out that the drone doesn't seem to fly well in this weather.

[ Spoiler ]

Please roll a piloting test. BTW, did you get info on the type of car he drives?

[Redjack]

System worked up dossiers on each of the mages. I guess I'm gonna have to pass the buck back to you on that question. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[ludomastro]

Tank finds that despite the weather, he is quickly able to adjust to flying the little drone. It takes him a while but he soon finds the car for one of the mages. It is a low end luxury model with all the bells and whistles.

Oh, yeah. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/embarrassed.gif)

[Redjack]

Tank locates a tree or a ledge onto which to land the fly-spy where it is obscured. "Now comes the waiting."

Book decides that of the two courses of action, staying out of sight or astral surveillance, the former is his best bet. Letting physical, technological surveillance be the primary method will be far with all the nearby magical security.

Tank turns to the hacker. "My drone is in position near the car. You are welcome to jump in and use it as a staging point to own the mage's car. You can then trace back to his com using his subscription to the car, right?"

[ludomastro]

System Error smiles at Tank and says, Unless he has some massive ice on that comm, this should be child's play. Thanks for the drone perch.

-----

After several hours of boredom, System Error reports that one of the mages is headed for his car only to report that it was a false alarm. He got a package out of the trunk and headed back inside. The weather has a depressing mood on the group for a bit until they see a Star patrol car chase down some ganger on foot. The beating he gets indicates that he pissed off someone. However, they don't haul him in.

Finally, the other mage emerges from the apartment around 0100. He makes for the car and gets in. System Error calls heads up and begins to work his magic.

[Redjack]

Book quickly becomes bored with the whole stake out. He settles back in the seat and dozes off, in and out of consciousness. He occasionally checks the astral to insure that their position has not be compromised.

Tank on the other hand watches through the drone camera and begins playing several concentration games. By the time there is actual movement, he has played 37 different games and eaten 6 Fizzo-Chewy® Snack Bars. The Fudgy-Moca was pretty good, but the strawberry-peanut butter was just plain nasty.
-------------------
Looking at the time... 0100. Shit, this is putting us a little behind schedule... Tank insures that Book is roused and as the car begins pulling out, he starts his car moves down the street. He also lights up the fly-spy and collects it as they pass.

Book on the other hand waits until they clear the neighborhood, then astrally projects, checking to insure that the target lacks astral surveillance...

[ludomastro]

Book sees the mage a little less clearly on the astral than before. It is as if something is muting his aura a little. However, it is no more than several drinks would normally do. The overgrown cat pads behind his car.

-----

System Error speaks up. Just tell me when and I'll take over his car and comm.

[Redjack]

As Tank begins slowly closing in on the security mage, Book assenses the cat spirit.

[ludomastro]

Book is able to determine that it is a beast spirit of some kind. How powerful the spirit is would appear to be a good question.

[Redjack]

Book momentarily returns to his body, "He has a spirit in tow. I will deal with that when you guys peg him.", before preparing his attack.

Tank looks over at the doberman in the passenger seat, before slinking back in his seat and going into full VR. He jumps into the drone and opens a command window back to the car. Feel like I'm back in the Army. 'Cept I miss my tank...

As they close in to a stop light/sign, Tank kicks it off. <<@System Error [Tank] Ok, we are pulling along side, lower the window and lock out his coms.>> He then issues a command to the car to lower the window and pull along side beside the car. Now I guess we find out if we are really in the big time or are simply fodder to the slaughter...

[ludomastro]

System Error eyes are completely glazed over. His voice has become monotonous. Command confirmed.

The window on the car drops as expected. The mage in the car is freaked out by this and begins to scream when he sees the van along side him.

-----

On the astral, the panther jerks his head up and looks for his prey.

[Redjack]

Book hangs back as Tank's vehicle pulls alongside the other shaman's vehicle. He readies the mana, feeling it at the edge of his finger tips. Snake is not happy, even though it is a surprise attack, it is a direct engagement and Snake resists. He knows that the spirit could become his undoing in a prolonged engagement so he risks overcasting and is burned for risk. He digs deep sending everything he dares with the stun bolt, but it still lacks the force of his spirit that comes with a full commitment of body and soul... Let this be enough... If not, let the spirit be summoned to our target and be gone when Tank drops him...

Back in the virtual world, Tank feels the strength and speed of the drone. Far faster than his meat body can move and react. As the window lowers below the barrel, he lets a three shot burst right into the surprised target. Good night Gracie. He hesitates a split second to ascertain the state of the mage before making a second fire decision..

[ludomastro]

Tank can see the mage's body convulse from the shock of the ammunition. He tries to enter a command in his computer then has a quick look of concentration on his face. In truth he looks as if he is about to fall over.

-----

Book watches as the Panther doesn't even grimace when hit with the stun bolt. The big cat stops for a second before heading in the direction of the car.

-----

Tank sees a giant panther materialize beside the mage's car blocking a second shot.

[Redjack]

Tank grimaces, then cusses himself for not shooting the damn mage twice at the onset. Safety tip: Shoot the mage twice. Always. Trauma patch if required...

Book again blasts at the spirit.. Tank would more than likely be unable to blast through the beast..

Tank on the other hand has heard of well placed shots disrupting a spirit. He levels his aim and shoots knowing that surprise had slipped away and the materializing spirit would be doing more than blocking in a moment.

[ludomastro]

The spirit shimmers momentarily after Tank hits it. Then it is gone.

-----

Without warning the mage's car slams on the brakes. System Error's monotonous voice speaks out, Warning, system crash. Please reboot.

System Error comes back to himself and adds, Check the car. I decided to crash him.

[Redjack]

Book's astral form hovers over their target. He concentrates and studies the shaman's aura, first to memorize the pattern to ascertain his signature for comparison to the wards and second to determine if he is unconscious from the sudden stop.

Tank on the other hand checks fire and matches the vehicle stop. He exits VR and looks back at System, "Did you see that?! I blasted that nasty magic lion!! Mages! Pah!... I mean no offense, but we go this covered."

Hovering close enough to hear the cocky adept, Book considers replying but instead lets him have a moment in the limelight. I'll burst his bubble later.. thinks the shaman. Book summons a watcher to serve as an astral watchdog, then returns to his own body. The weight of the mundane world weighs heavy and he feels oh so slow compared to the lofty movements that astral space affords him. A nagging voice, deep in the back of his brain is Snake, chastising him for not focusing more studies on the astral. In time... In time...

Book looks to his two team mates. "Let's ditch the car in a nearby lot, get the mage, bind and mage-mask him and get on to the trash truck. We are a little later than we wanted to be...."

[ludomastro]

Tank sees a tan, human male about 30 years old sitting in the seat of the car. Blood gushes from a cut on his head. Upon closer examination, it does not appear to be life threatening. However, the headache will not be envied by anyone.

Book is quickly able to determine the man's aura and that his head injury is not life threatening in anyway. Book picks up on the confusion and anger pouring off the man's subconscious in waves.


System Error smiles. Looks like we nailed this piece of the puzzle. Tell me where to have the trash truck meet us.

[Redjack]

Tank looks back to the tecno-hacker. "You seriously rule. Four blocks from the museum?"

Tank drives the rental van over to a nearby alley. Looking out for security cameras, he tries to align the vehicles for a little obscurity to transfer the mage. Then, he looks for a lot nearby where they can dump the mage's car without raising any suspicions.

As Book bounds the mage, Tank uses the mage's sleeve to clean the blood off the steering wheel/dash. No sense taking chances with that..

Minutes later they are on the road, their guest bagged and tagged for the ride. Book looks to the other two. "He has cybereyes. Recording capability no doubt. We need to find a way to use that to our advantage. So far he's seen the doberman and the van... " Everything the mage had seen so far is non-descript. Book knew that to earn the bonus, he needed to leave enough bread crumbs to make it look like an inside job. The wheels in his mind continues to spin as the van goes down the highway. He always liked a little overkill.

[ludomastro]

System Error smiles and answers tank with enthusiasm more like a group about to bail out of an airplane on a training drill. You got it, chief! And you're right, I do rock.

-----

Tank spots a parking lot for the city bus. While technically illegal to park overnight there were always a few cars and the Star never seemed to care much. Trash was blowing around the one car on blocks that had been there for who knows how long. The rest of the cars looked like city residents using this lot for the discounted parking it offered. Most of the lights were still intact, though a few flickered ominously. All in all this particular lot looked average.

-----

System Error pipes back up and adds a quick note. We're gonna have to make it six blocks. There are too many eyes four block out. Here, follow this map.

Tank is greeted with an AR map of their current location and all other pertinent details of the road way.

System Error smiles once more and adds, I hope you don't mind chief! I gave myself access to your comm. You should really consider better security on that thing.

-----

Book hears the mage groan for a minute then go still only to convulse a second later. He is obviously awake and uncomfortable.

-----

System Error's map leads them to a darkened alley where they can make the transfer without problems. The trash truck is waiting for them.

[Redjack]

Tank follows the route directed by System Error. Better safe than sorry Grandma always used to say.

As the mage begins to stir, Book inspects him astrally and adds a second watcher. This one specifically watching the mage. Any attempts at spell casting or summoning will trigger the watcher and the caster-summoning link will alert Book instantly should the watcher be dispatched early. He then checks the restraints to insure that they are secure and then sits back as the seconds tick by.
-------------------
Arriving at the alley, Tank keeps his cool and back up the van. The duo move quietly loading the carpet into the back of the trash truck, then unrolling it. Next, they move the mage and platform over onto the carpet. As Tank loads the doberman, Book begins casting his spells.

He concentrates, hearing the hum of the mana, weaving it around the adept. When he is finished, Tank no longer looks like a burglar in a ski mask. Instead he looks like an ork with several distinctive scars and a sanitation company uniform. His attempts to turn himself invisible do not go as smoothly. He tries to spin the mana while keeping the hum of Tank's spell in place.

He weaves the mana around himself, but is not satisfied and allows it to dissipate. He weaves again... and again.. He blinks in and out of visibility four times, not satisfied with the spell until the fifth casting. Now sustaining two spells he climbs into the cab and sits back. Here's a silent prayer for a smooth operation...

Tank climbs in and as soon System Error is aboard they move towards the museum. On the off chance that random monitoring is occurring, as they move closer they stop by several trash cans and pretend to load up the trash.