Atlanta 2070, Hot time in the old town tonight Options

[ludomastro]

Other than a couple walking down the street the group doesn't see anyone. They soon arrive at the museum and see the security guard - an ork - on his personal transport. Otherwise the museum is dark.

Personal transport ~ Segway (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Redjack]

As the trash truck nears the museum, Tank collects a trash can (one of the ~55 gallon sized ones). He pulls up and stops, parking the trash truck near the museum..

The existence of a security guard outside the museum is unexpected, but not a show stopper. Book looks to System Error. "I suggest we start by you owning his com. From there, you can determine what security measures he is tied directly into: cameras, access to the building, other guards on duty. Once that is complete, we can adapt the plan, give him a little of the same treatment we gave the mage and get the hell out of here. Prize in tact."

Tank simply nods. Just let me play my part... Man I could sure use a drink..

While System begins his work, Book projects his consciousness into the astral and begins looking for any astral over watch.

[ludomastro]

Book's meat eyes see nothing out of the ordinary. Just a bum lying in the museum's grassy area.

On the astral he spots a few watchers roaming around the museum. The bum has some cyberware in his arms.

-----

Tank takes a good look around the area and notices three things. There is a small tracked security drone making rounds, a few lights are on in the administration section of the museum and there is an undercover guard lying in the grass pretending to be a bum.

[Redjack]

Book shifts his gaze back from the astral. "Not sure we are gonna pull this off without generating some heat. There are some watchers floating around. Granted, they're not very smart, but without knowing what their trigger is... We are gonna have to play that totally by ear. Once they light up, astral space could get crowded... Unless our boy in the back in the summoner..."

Tank checks in as well. "Yea, I got security in the park and a drone on patrol in addition to the obvious guard."

Book looks to the team hacker. "Ok. System, where do we sit with the guard's com? Is the drone slaved to it? If not, can you grab it too? We need to start making decisions on feed back loops and whether or not we are still green and go."

Tank, never one to miss the obvious, adds: "And we need to make those decisions quick. In about two minutes the trash truck is gonna start raising questions."

[ludomastro]

System Error's voice has taken on a metallic quality but he quickly answers. The guard's comm runs the doors and I have him playing a shell game at the moment. The doors won't be a problem. There is a memo on there stating that the Vatican has added two security guards. One mage and one cybergoon. I believe that the administrative offices have been turned into a makeshift base. I am spoofing the drone now. ... Got it. It can report whatever we want.

[Redjack]

"Merde! Merde! Merde!" Book couldn't think of anything else to say at the moment. Time is slipping and they have some major improvisation right now. This is what we get paid for.. Thinking on our feet... But it obviously isn't enough.. Pay, that is.

Tank offers up, "Starting from the outside in, I can hit the dude in the park before he knows what him. Coordinating with System on the drone and the guard location."

Book has a moment of dawning. "Actually, this may be the best thing for us. We know the two mages who work primary security and now we have the back up mage.... The cost of magical security, surely this is it. We put this guy to sleep and pull this off and it looks more and more like an inside job... And this little drone on the parameter will help me establish it as an inside job..." He starts to smile again leaning back in his seat yet again to project out of his body. His destination is to see how close he can get to the administrative office. He is wary of the watchers in the area and will back off if they seem to be watching it as well... Probably not though... That would draw attention to it and I imagine the addition mage doesn't want the attention on him..

[ludomastro]

System Error looks at Book for a moment and then replies in a faux robot voice, Does not compute. Switching back to a normal voice he adds, I'm not following you there Book. Tank, your idea I understand entirely. Just tell me when you are ready and what you want the drone to do.

Noticing that Book's body seems lifeless, System Error glances over at Tank and asks, Does he do that often. The whole not finishing thoughts and jacking into the mana ... or whatever it is that mages do?

[Redjack]

Tank smirks, "Yes he does. I guess it is one of those things.. Personally, I don't know any other mages so I just deal with it." He looks back out of the trash truck. "In any case, I'm ready to get this on... He better get back so we can get moving."

[ludomastro]

Book is unable to find a way past the watchers; however, he is able to avoid detection. Lining up a view through the window only shows a low force ward in the office.

[Redjack]

Book returns to his body and sits back up. "The astral side of this is infinitely more complex. The office is warded and there are watchers moving about. In my mind, we have two choices. First, cut and run. If we do that though, our reps go to the toilet. We could feasibly hit it later as our run on the security mage shouldn't be linked to this, but our next run at it would be equally -or- more complicated."

Tank scowls. Damn I need a drink. Looking around in the trash truck, he thinks about the bottle he has stashed back in his own vehicle. "No way. How do we do it tonight?"

Book continues, "Yes, the other option is to improvise. I'm gonna have to draw the mage out and hit him in astral space. I normally prefer to avoid combat, but it seems it is required here. I will pull up some spirits in the astral, hit his watchers and ambush him when he comes to investigate." Looking around, he sees that the task is far more daunting to himself than his team mates. "System - Put the external cameras over here on loop back, inside the guard and security drone are clear. Tank - Hit the agent in the park with the new ammo, then hit the guard. Once you target the guard, my spirits and I will start targeting watchers. Everyone understand?"

Tank gestures, "How will you know we are hitting the guard?"

"I will be in the van in the astral. Just start a countdown: Ready, three, two, one... Then we will hit them together."

[ludomastro]

System Error smiles and in a slightly robotic voice says, Command executed.

[Redjack]

Following System's go ahead, Tank activates his hot-sim and jumps into the drone. Feeling the drones as if it was his own body, he eases it out of the truck. He slowly moves it around the corner, sights in the 'bum' and lets a burst loose.

Book on the meantime has stepped into astral space. He calls forth his bound air spirit and spirit of man, placing them on standby before summoning a beast spirit. The sustained spells however distract him and he is unable to wrestle a spirit from the metaplanes. His second attempt however is very successful. Three spirits now on standby, he awaits the signal to proceed.

Back in the mundane world, Tank checks fire, checking to see if his target was taken down by his initial shot.

[ludomastro]

The bum writhes in pain letting loose a gut wrenching scream. He doubles over but is still moving. His eyes are searching for the source of the shot but he misses the van completely - he ends up looking at a parked car on the other side of the street.

System Error giggles while the security guard spins around his seemingly possessed personal transport. A few seconds later the guard jumps off while the transport spins in wider circles.

-----

The watcher spirits scatter with one heading back toward the ward in the office.

[Redjack]

In VR, Tank begins cussing up a storm as he sites the 'bum' in again, releasing a short, wide burst this time.

In the astral, Book swings into motion. He considers blasting the watchers, but changes his mind. Confident that, not only is System intercepting and suppressing alerts, but that the mage will investigate before sounding the alarm. After all, no astral activity....yet. Hopefully he will pop out to see what it going on. Book moves above the office, so as to be in a position to see the mage's exit point. To his spirits: "Defend me"

[ludomastro]

The wide spray of bullets take down the guard in his bum guise as he raises his firearm.

The drones show that the security guard is coming off the group pulling his sidearm free from the holster and yelling into what can only be assumed as a communication device.

A seemingly female voice drifts out of System Error Lonestar dispatch office. What is the nature of your emergency?

-----

A winged humanoid figure emerges from the warded area. It appears to be about seven feet tall with movable wings, though they don't appear to be moving. The being is bathed is a white hot light that seems to burn. It turns it's gauge toward the cluster of spirits around Snake.

[Redjack]

Tank turns the doberman, waiting for the guard to come into view. Oblivious to the degrading situation in astral space, he is upbeat at the current situation. He stifles a laugh as System p0wns the call to emergency services. Here little guard... Come and get your medicine....

Floating above the facility, Book releases the invisibility spell on himself and generates the best stun bolt he can muster as his own spirits move defensively in front of him. He groans at the strain. Back in the van, blood begins trickling down his nose.

[ludomastro]

The manabolt erupts from the spirit's center. It begins to buckle inward and in a flash of light and heat, it is gone.

[Redjack]

Book looks in near disbelief as the monstrous spirit dissipates. As he gains control of his faculties, he has an epiphany. Well, the defecation is in the ventilation now..
He and his spirits await the next wave and hopefully the mage as he glances down, noticing the guard headed for the corner in the mundane world.

Tank on the other hand awaits the guard's arrival, using the video feed from the security drone supplied by System to spring his ambush. As the guard comes around the corner, Tank targets him and lets a narrow burst rip. "Buuuuyahhhh!"

[ludomastro]

As the guard comes around he catches the doberman out out of the corner of his eye. He attempts to react but is too slow. The bullets rip into him and he crumples in a heap.

[Redjack]

Tank whoops again, ecstatic that the guard is down. He places the doberman on defensive mode, jumps out and sits up. He pulls the thin mask over his face, confident of the magical mask, but wary should it fail or need to be dropped. He looks over at Book's body and speaks into the air, not realizing the shaman is not there. "Let's go. The clock is ticking...."

High above the building, Book looks intently for the astral follow up....

[Redjack]

Seeing the mage poke his head out of the ward, Book knows it is now or never and that the only way to drop the watchers is to drop the mage. He winces as he once again overcasts fearing the pain and destruction to his body. His trepidation at casting the power magic, the focus to sustain Tank's mask and Snake's aversion to combat cause the effect to be far less than spectacular. I can only hope his day is worse than mine is Book's thought as he looks at the watchers flying away, hoping and praying they blink out of existence.

In any case, Book returns to his body, spirits now providing over watch from the astral. He bolts up, pulling his mask over his face, jumping out of the trash truck. Tank, still looking like an ork in a garbage collector's uniform, grabs the roller platform and the two run for the museum.

[ludomastro]

The stunbolt slams into a barrier near the mage. Book recognizes it as a counterspell in action.

-----

As Book and Tank dash toward the museum a small, neon-orange cat appears in AR and says, There may be more guards inside, watch yourselves!

[Redjack]

As the pair approach the museum, the doberman comes up alongside the ork garbageman (aka Tank) while the pair of spirits continue to provide over watch from the astral. Tank pulls out his fly-spy, opens an AR window to receive the video feed from the small drone and proceed into the museum.

[ludomastro]

Tank and Book reach the doors without incident. The neon-orange cat paws at the door and it pops open. As they go inside the cat hisses a split second before ....

Roll Perception for Book and Tank

[Redjack]

[ Spoiler ]

Tank [1,4,6,5,1,2,4,1,3,6] = 3 hits
Book [1,5,5,6,1,1,6,6] = 5 hits
Less dice and negative modifiers and Book knocks it out of the park!!