Atlanta 2070, Hot time in the old town tonight Options

[Redjack]

The initial parameters of the job laid out, Book considers the situation. Need for lethal force? That gives me pause. The ten k a piece is nice though.. but I think we need a B&E specialist... After a moments pause to think he begins with a few questions, starting with the one part of her delivery he can't let go of. "Need for lethal force? Can you elaborate on that? Is the prototype mineral or organic? Magical or mundane? Can it be moved to a different container for transport?" He pauses before adding a few more questions. "What specifics do you have on the security contract, including response time clauses?"

Tank leaned back slightly. Book is always good at throwing out the tough questions. You go.

[ludomastro]

The smile dissolves into a business-like face. She places her hands on the table in a relaxed position and sits up a little bit straighter. I appreciate the directness of your questions. Let's answer them in order. I will not patronize you by explaining what is meant by lethal force. If you prefer to use non-lethal means, then that is your prerogative. We merely want you to understand that the other side does not use non-lethal force and has a shoot first, ask questions later policy. Be prepared. The prototype design and materials of construction are not open for discussion; however, I will say that it is mundane. It can be placed in whatever additional container you wish; however the prototype is roughly the size of the cabinet I mentioned. The facility is protected by internal corporate security who live on-site. The response time can be measure in seconds, not minutes. Also, you will be under ground for much of the operation. What else would you like to know?

[Redjack]

Book remains focused, also placing his hands on the table. "Actually, I was seeking clarification on why you emphasized the lethal force. Security forces with response time measured in seconds who immediately respond with lethal force seems to have fulfilled that." Her lack of honesty around the package gave him pause. He elected to come back to that, rather than tip his hand.

Tank adds a grimace, immediately seeing a negotiating point. "Underground? That definitely changes things. High up is much easier to deal with than trapped underground."

Book nods. This is an unexpected and unwanted complication. That factor was almost enough to make him reconsider the whole run. "Its not that I'm claustrophobic, I'm just allergic to death... and being trapped underground with security forces itching to score a few kills tends to aggravate that condition."

Tank takes a second look at Book, Did he just say something funny?!?!

Book looks at their Johnson-san. Snake was prodding him. There is a secret still hidden here. "Will your support also include cover identities to get us into this facility? And what is the required time frame?" He pauses before another thought comes to mind, "Does this facility have extra-territoriality?"

[ludomastro]

It is our normal practice to require these things to be accomplished without violence. For you, perhaps, the taking of life may be a concern; however, we authorize each mission on an individual basis. She pauses for a minute and considers Tank's question. She smirks at Book's statement and almost laughs. Yes, I suppose I too am allergic to death. We have been unable to penetrate their computers to develop the fake identities you would like to have. The best we have been able to do is schedule a shipment with you as cargo. Perhaps our young ork here can succeed where we have failed? She smiles at System. You have ten days to complete the extraction. After that, the item will be moved. The facility doesn't technically exist so I suppose extra-territoriality is a second consideration. You know that satellites can crash or gas pipelines can rupture. Local authorities won't know the difference. Does that answer your question.

[Redjack]

Book immediately picks up the fact that she is aware of System's role. I must assume she is familiar with all of our roles.. and to some degree, our abilities. The balance at the table suddenly shifted away from the team. Throw in the earlier deception and Book in getting skeptical.

A plan was beginning to come together. The team gets inserted as cargo, they grab the package and they plan multiple escape vectors. They would need to quickly overtake security systems and establish fake identities within, probably replacing personnel within the facility. They had blueprints but no access to the system. The shaman turns to their negotiator, "Perhaps we let this one pass. Ten k is good money, but it don't spend if you're dead."

Tank frowned, not sure if Book was for real or playing up for more pay. "Surely we can strike a deal here." He turned his attention back to Johnson-san. "He has a good point. There are a lot of aspects of this that place fish in a proverbial barrel. How much detail do you have on the location of the item and any specific security measures that are in place? The more unknowns, the more enticement we need to stick our necks over that line." He looks over to System for agreement before looking back at Johnson-san.

[ludomastro]

She nods. Yes, being dead does indeed prohibit withdrawals from shadowy accounts. It it helps, we have blueprints to the facility including the location of the item. Security is mostly based on physical deterrence and anonymity. Nevertheless, there are magical measures in place as well. Beyond that, I believe I have a brief of known security protocols, passive measures and counter measure in the event of an attack. Does that suffice? She leans back a bit in her chair and checks her watch. Should you wish to remove yourself from consideration, please let me know. Your reputation for secrecy precedes you and Digger-san assures your silence. There are other who are perhaps less ... cautious than you.

[Redjack]

"Does that suffice?"

Tank looks to Book for recognition moving himself, at least psychologically between Book and Johnson-san. Book nods, "Better, anyway."

"....There are other who are perhaps less ... cautious than you."

Tank smiles at the last crack. They are playing their cards, she is playing hers; Indicative of every negotiation. The face turns back to her, "The team is the very definition of professionalism." He is choosing his words to keep himself disassociated, posturing verbally as a neutral third party. He itemizes once more what is on the table facing Johnsan-san, "You are providing blue prints of the facility including the location of the item, a brief on the facility security and two vehicles. Your compensation offer, at this time, is thirty thousand nuyen plus an, as of yet, unstated bonus for zero casualties." He then turns to Book, "Your issues seem to be the following: An underground facility is infinitely harder to escape from, an increased magical defense grid vastly complicates the run, a lack of full disclosure on the item presents unknown variables into its extraction?"

Book nods, "That is a fair summary."

Without skipping a beat, Tank asks Book, "So this means that there will need to be expensive magical preparations on your side, plus extra gear purchased, information will need to be discreetly purchased. What if Johnson-san provided five thousand a piece to cover these up front expenses, over and above the compensation?"

Book nodded silently. That should be enough to get me through the month and get the foci... Though probably not until the run is over.

Tank looked to system for a nod, then back to Johnson-san. "It appears the team is ready and willing to get your prototype. I assume the expenses are acceptable to insure success?"

[ludomastro]

The elderly woman purses her lips for a moment. Yes. Yes, that will be fine. She pulls her comm out of her bag and opens an AR window. Here is the information: plans, schedules, briefs, contact information, etc. Snapping her bag shut, she asks, Before I go, is there anything else? She then places a single credstick on the table. The matte black color with a shinny platinum band is unknown. Perhaps it speaks of high limits? System lets out an audible gasp when he sees it.

[Redjack]

The lack of a counter proposal concerns Tank. Now, he is as concerned as Book appeared to be earlier. He maintains his composure though, partially through experience, mostly because that is his magic. "No. We will be in touch in the allotted time."

Book watches the woman, silently. The answer on the case still bothers him, but the negotiations were complete and no additional information would be forthcoming. He noted both the cred-stick and System's response. The value of the band would not change the fee she was paying. Forty-five will buy a lot.... and this time I think we may need to hire a distraction. Snake hissed about her secrets, wanting to have them, wanting to know them. I want some of them myself.

[ludomastro]

The woman stands and walks out of the room. System lets out a low whistle. That is a ZO Blackstick - I thought they were a myth. Zurich Orbital can track their location anywhere on earth and there is no limit to the number and amount of transactions they can process. It is always linked to ZO and can actually move funds not just the promise of funds. I would love to take a crack at it. System is almost drooling.

[Redjack]

Tank stands as quickly as she does, gives short bow as she steps away and leaves. Book is much slower, but rises as well before returning to his seat.

When only the three are left in the room, Tank considers the situation. After his recent move and new ID associated to his mild paranoia, Tank looks at the stick and then System. "I'm not sure whether to be impressed or mortified." He turns back to the stick.

Book on the other hand is sure. "Why would I want a credstick that can be tracked? Doesn't that defeat the purpose?" The shaman sighs, wrinkles an eyebrow and continues, "Perhaps we should consider ourselves expendable assets at this moment in time. This screams top-ten. This screams-." He stops, turning to the hacker.
<<@Team [Book] 'Clean the loose ends when the job is done'. Scan the room.>>

Book shifts his gaze to the astral, while Tank looks under the table and chairs.
The paranoia level of a shadowrunnng team is directly proportional to the pay. For this team, their pay just hit a new level.

[ludomastro]

System nods and his eyes loose focus. After a few minutes he starts sweating. It is about ten more minutes until he finally relaxes. <<I had to kick out a rather nasty Agent trying to hack Digger's node here in the Cube. After that, I had to bust some tracking nanites that were left in the room. Whoever that woman is, she is not good news.>> Pulling a second credstick from his pack, System begins transfering the funds from the Blackstick. <<I suppose that Digger can keep this for a few days. I would love to take a crack at it but not right now.>>

[Redjack]

Book scowls even deeper. He cocks his head sideways as he looks at the swirling dust, then hears System's explanation. Hackers? Nanites? The run hasn't even started yet!

He releases his sustained spell then shifts his perceptions to the astral plane. The watchers outside the room raise his blood pressure. He stops as Tank speaks.

"I think we're pretty small minnows is a seriously large pond on this one."

Book rubs his hand across his face, half because Tank would say such a thing... half because it is true.

Tank looks around not sure what to make of the current scene. "Yea. Pull the yen, leave the stick here. When we're done, it null sheen to me if you keep the stick. Guess I'd better bone up on some more ammo. Maybe some upgrades drones and that chameleon suit I've been putting off buying."

Meanwhile, the shaman wills into existence several watchers of his own. To the first he says, "Chase that watcher away." gesturing to the one watching them. To the second, "Patrol the perimeter of this room. Alert me if any spell or awakened being crosses into it, either on the physical or astral planes." To the third, "Find Digger and ask him to come to the conference room."

The first watcher came in the form of a chihuahua. It lit out through astral space barking and howling like a great dane at the watcher in question, sounds unheard on the material plane of existence. The second watcher arrived in the form of a garter snake and slinked off through the walls around the room looking for eaves droppers. The final watcher came in the form of a 12" tall John Travolta dancing disco style to the beat of the club's music. It danced off into the crowd seeking the dwarf. Unseen by Book when it found the dwarf, it materialized on his shoulder, humming Staying Alive. "Yo, Daddy-o. Book requests that you dance your way to the conference room."

[ludomastro]

Digger comes in a few minutes later. What can I do for you? I trust the J gave you what you needed?

[Redjack]

Tank perks up as the dwarf enters, "Just who I wanted to see." He steps up and towards Digger, "I need that chameleon suit we were talking about."

Book waits for the adept to finish before interjecting. "We need to know about Johnson-san. She is considerably higher rent then our normal clientele... and she broke a rule. She left stuff behind to keep tabs on us. We are going to need to prepare alternate extraction method from this run. I already smell a double cross."

Tank wasn't quite sure that their Johnson would double-cross them more than just make sure they wouldn't double-cross her. He is paranoid to go along with about anything Book was planning though.

Tank added, "Might check into a maglock passkey and other anti-physical security methods. Not sure what we may encounter down there."

Book just grimaced and kept his scowl in place. This surely will not end well.

[ludomastro]

Digger looks surprised. I checked her our myself. I ... The dwarf is left dumbfounded for a moment. What precisely did she leave in my club? His cheeks start to darken - a sure sign he is getting hot under the collar. With visible effort he calms himself and coolly turns to Tank. Sure, I'll be happy to get you the suit. Let me take a look at what I got. Anything else?

Once he finishes with the questions and answers he turns on his heel and marches out of the room. With a look over his shoulder he adds, Stay as long as you like.

[Redjack]

Book looks to the dwarf. "It comes with the territory; Nature of the business. Given the tech she had, we are playing in the big time. If we want the big bucks, we gotta expect to play with a rough crowd." He considers the situation silently for a moment, "the trick is for us to stay one step ahead." He considers breaking into his savings for one of those suits himself. He also reflects on a new spell he may need for this run. I hate brute force, but I need a fall back it all else fails.

Tank puts a hand on Digger's shoulder, "System said they was nanites." He turns to the hacker, "You did smash 'em, trash 'em or whatever is required to neutralize those little bastards, right?" Turning back to their fixer, "I better stock up on a few clips of stick-n-shock." It's times like these I wish I was one of those magical martial artist adept dudes.

[ludomastro]

Digger takes note of everything said. His eyes lose focus for a minute while he sets up his AR windows. Ok. I ... uh. I ... He hesitates for a while. System, I need your help. I need someone to poke through my Matrix security and see what it will take to bring it up to speed. I need to know if the money I paid was worth it. Turning to Book he adds, You have a recommendation for someone who could throw down some magical security? Tank, same for physical security?

He nods, satisfied. Now, I'll give you a call on the gear once I have a line on it.

[Redjack]

Book hadn't been soliciting for more work, but it did make a rude sort of sense. "I'll need access to the club when not one is around. I can ward the office areas, that should suffice, at least initially." He weighs watchers and spirits on patrol. Nothing here to warrant that. Looking back at Digger, "You might also suggest a posted club policy on magic use. Then on meet nights I can post watchers who will alert the bouncers on who to bounce out the door for breaking said policy."

Tank, meanwhile, turns to System. "If you'll give me a security account, I'll review the camera placements." I'm betting he has nothing more than cameras.... He then turns back to their fixer, smiling at the role reversal, "We'll hook you up." I've always wondered how many running teams he works with...

Book switches gears, mentally. "System, I think we all need to pony up for one of those chameleon suits.."

Tank raises a finger. "Yo hoss. Those run in the neighborhood of 8k."

Book raises an eyebrow. He knew they'd be pricey, but hadn't expected that much. "Our retainer won't cover that, especially if we're looking to arrange an alternate exit. System, can you come up with four to five k? Digger - Any volume discounts on those things?" His mind was also on the cost of the spell he was about to acquire. Snake is not going to like it, but it is definitely required...
-------
Once the questions are answered, Book turns to the duo. "Perhaps we should take the evening for a little R&R.... It may be a while before we have any again..."

Tank smiles, not quite sure whether it is more thought of the platinum blond's elf's sizable breasts in his hands or a bourbon and coke. Either way, he intended to indulge in both.

[ludomastro]

Book's night goes well. He is able to meet several interesting people in the bar. He even learns a few secrets about Digger by piecing together various comments. It appears that Digger is out of the doghouse with the Star after the recent shake up in the ranks. He also has some heavy gambling debts to the Family. At the end of the night there is both a young ork and a thirty-something elf that have hinted they would like to go home with him.

-----

Tank's night goes well; however, not as well as Book's. His lines aren't quite as smooth and the ladies aren't quite a smitten as normal. Nevertheless, he racks up comm codes in the dozens.

-----

System seems to fade away after a few minutes at the club.

[Redjack]

As the night draws to a close, Daltonis actually chilling. A number of prospects, but what has his attention is the duo giving Book their attention; Neither are quite within his standards. To each their own.

Book barely notices when System slips off. At first, he feels awkward mixing in the bar; Not his normal scene. As talk begins to flow a little freer and he uncovers a little information he did not have before, he begins to feel in his element. A drink or two and he starts loosening up, even flirting. People are friendly adding to his euphoria. The elf milf catches his eye first. Elven women always draw his eye: Slender figures, long pointed ears and a mythical allure. On the other hand, the aggressive young ork woman was sensual in a more primeval fashion.
--------------
The night before was a blur, all that he knew was that he was sore; His entire body hurt. He felt a body on left arm and looked over in the early morning light to see the elven woman sleeping peacefully. He did not recognize the room he was in and considered getting up, when he felt someone roll into him on his right side. A strong, yet feminine arm wrapped around him waist, her hand landing on the elven woman's stomach. No wonder I hurt.

At first, he is unsure what to do. As he begins to extricate himself from the two women, they stir to consciousness.

[ Spoiler ]

Charisma(5) + Etiquette(1): [5,2,1,4,5,3] = 2 hits

---------------
Book drinks his juice while making small talk. Earlier, in order to mitigate his own unease, he had suggested breakfast. After last night, everyone was up for that. With a IHOP a short cab ride away they are now getting to know each other a bit more in the light of day. Despite his lack of experience in social graces, Book's natural charisma is definitely an asset.
---------------
A cab ride later, numbers exchanged and both ladies delivered home Book makes his way to Bolo's. There was a spell he was anticipating needed on this run.....

---------------
Tank had connected with one of the numbers he collected during the evening and then slipped out while she was asleep. Returning to his new home, he sat up for a while after arriving. The map of the facility was not sitting easy on his stomach. He is a tanker and used to enclosed spaces, but a space he controlled; He's not a tunnel-rat. This job called for a tunnel rat. Tunnels were to easy to trap you in. In a tank, if the dmz gets too hot you pull out. If a tunnel gets too hot, you die.

As he drifted off to sleep, he he thought about Johnson-san's words: We merely want you to understand that the other side does not use non-lethal force and has a shoot first, ask questions later policy.

Every run is like that. Someone wants to hurt you to set an example, to simplify the paperwork or just to get their lollies. This one feels different. Eventually he got to sleep, though it was far from restful.

[ludomastro]

Book finds himself in small talk with both of the women. Surprisingly, the two women don't go at each other. As happens with all conversations there is a lull when nothing more can be said. The suggestion to eat at IHOP is taken well in stride. In the end, Book has two numbers from a flirty elf and a forward ork.

-----

A knight in shinning armor appears to Book in AR and opens a scroll. Thereon is a message:

<<Guys, I can't find a way to get more cash right now.>>


-----

Over the course of several days the team gets calls from various sources.

A greasy Italian is offering Chameleon Suits for 6500 nuyen.
A well known arms dealer has the stick-n-shock for 1000 nuyen.
A back alley mechanic has the various drone programs:
- Defense Autosoft for 2k
- Covert Ops Autosoft for 650
- Clearsight R3 Autosoft for 650

-----

Bolo gives Book a call from the Talismonger Shop. I found that spell formula you were looking for. It will run about 1,800 'yen.

[Redjack]

Day #1 (after the meet)
Book was concerned where the hacker was spending his money. He should have had a few grand to cover equipment expenses. It was also at this point that he wished Tank had just negotiated for the chameleon suits with Johnson-san. Another moment's reflection and he wasn't sure. Right now that wasn't in their M.O. and Book had a nagging feeling in the back of his brain that the suits might just be the edge they need some day.

<<@Team [Book] System - We can cover you upfront and work it out in the end, but I believe we all need this gear on this one. Our escape may depend on it. We need you to poke around and see if you can figure out who actually owns the facility. We're gonna make enemies here and I'd like to know just how powerful and how bad a reputation for revenge they are.>>
----------------
Day #3
The days seemed to drag on. Dalton's mood was far from his normal, jovial self. The tunnel rat thing was really getting to him.
----------------
The run has the opposite effect on Book. It might be the prospect of death causing him to live a little or snake's joy at the secrets buried in the facility. In either case, he visits both the elven woman and the ork woman from the night of the meet, separately.
----------------
The call from someone calling themselves Lug-Nut came out of the blue. After checking the guy's reference with Digger, Tank arrives at the meet alone. Well, not quite alone; His doberman is on full defense in the back of the cruiser. The guy turns out to be straight up and 3,300 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) later Tank's com is loaded with several new pieces of software.
----------------
Day #4
Dalton sat back in his seat when the message came in. Six Gun is a well known gun runner in the Atlanta area. After a few moment the realization sets in: Six Gun has to sell to someone, a lot of someone's in fact, to be big time. That fact didn't stop Dalton from feeling a couple of notches higher in the food chain though. Granted, he was only collecting four clips of ammunition. Perhaps next time it would be considerably more.
----------------
Day #5
Dalton spent the better part of his day drinking at the Cube. Half their prep time for the run had passed. They still needed the armor and Book said there is something he was still missing that Dalton couldn't get. What the hell can't I get?
----------------
Day #6
The incessant beeping of the com finally brought Dalton to a state that mostly passed for consciousness. "You'se the guy lookin' for the suits?"

"I might be." Dalton was able say through the pounding.

"Either you'se is are you'se ain'ts... Makes no difference to me."

"I'm listening."

The greasy little Italian who identified himself as Joey "Two-Fingers" arranged a meet at a little cafe called Mama's. Dalton was pretty sure they had covered all their tracks in the last run, but you never could be too sure. He staked out the meet, scouting with his fly-spy and parking down the street leaving his doberman on high-alert defense.

Joey led him through the cafe and out the back door to a sedan parked in the alley. Popping the trunk he revealed three packages: SWAT issue chameleon suits. "Ten kay each. You were wanting all three?"

"Ten? I just wanted to buy the suits, not monkeys to wear them and a warranty too."

"These are hard to come by-" Tank had pulled out his scanner. "Why's that thing beeping?"

Tank turned to the fence. "You know these things are all RFID tagged? What the hell are you trying to pull?"

"I- Well-" Joey stammered, then blushed for a moment. "Six-Five and you keep the RFID tag just between us."

Tank already had a credstick loaded with the nuyen from the ZO credstick. He added the additional nuyen and called it a day. A few more minutes and he'd start haggling up realizing he'd misspoke. Tank smashed the tags and took the suits, making haste just in case someone was actively tracked in the suits. He sent his car home on its own and made his way back to his safe house three hours later after changing transportation and route six times to insure he wasn't followed.
----------------
Bolo's call was welcome indeed. Book was beginning to get skittish. He immediately made the trip to pick up the formula, dismissing her questions with a smile and paying her the requested fee. "Perhaps some day I will right my memoirs..."

Her only reply was, "You still follow Snake, right.....?"
----------------
Day #7
For Eric, the day is absorbed in learning the formula; Basking in its secrets.

Dalton, on the other hand, spends the day checking over the new gear. By mid-evening he is back at the Cube.
----------------
Day #8
Dalton wakes up in another bimbo's flop in a low rent apartment building. To be truthful, he didn't even remember the night before. Once he made it home, he did something out of character: He stayed at home for the night.

Book on the other hand, flush with the success of learning a new spell decided to celebrate. He decided to try to set up another wild evening.....

[ludomastro]

Day #8 Evening

Dalton passes a relatively quiet night at home. The only things that stay on his mind are the swirling details and the occasional thought of a drink.

Eric on the other hand is enjoying himself. Although he doesn't seem to be in the zone the say way he was either in the week, he nevertheless is quite a hit with the ladies. The only thing lowering his mood is Snake calling him to seek out the secrets before him.

-----

Day #9 Morning

System, having been absent from all forms of communication for more than a week, surfaces with a comm message. It is just a text file with heavy encryption. Surprisingly, both Tank's and Book's comms launch a previously unknown verification program. It says, Almost have an owner for the facility. The rest of the story is scary. Meet me at the Dona Lumirez taco bar. There is a simple map attached.

-----

Dona Lumirez has been dead and gone for over two decades; however, her restaurant lives on. The taco bar is loud, crowded and busy. It is on the edge of a security zone where IDs are highly useful but not required. The place has the kind of setup that most runner bars strive for but often fail at providing. System is already there chowing down on beans, rice, and burritos. The food smells quite pleasant and some of it, judging by the prices is real food - not processed soy.

System motions for the other two to sit down at the booth he has been saving. We gotta eat to keep the booth so dig in and I'll fill you in as you fill you. He smiles at his weak attempt at humor.

[Redjack]

Day #8 Evening
Eric plays the evening for what it is, a distraction from the upcoming run. This time however, he elects to remember it the next morning. In the light of the club, he elects form over function and goes home with the elven woman from the week before.
----------------
Day #9 Morning
Eric awakes first and takes several long minutes to admire the curves and form of the sleeping woman and her timeless beauty. Being elven, it is her eyes and the way she carries herself that betrays her being a few years older than the typical club goer. It is probably those two items that attracts him to her.

They are dressing and he is considering breakfast when the call comes from System. He kisses her gently before breaking the news. "Just got a wave from a coworker. We have a project that appears to have some issues. I need to meet with him this morning. Rain check on breakfast?"
----------------
Dalton had awoken early and was carrying a water bottle around, a surrogate for an alcoholic drink. He wanted to be sober in the tunnels. He was watching an old war movie of the Aztlan Wars when the call came from System.

He tagged Book after he dressed. The shaman's location was in a neighborhood other than where Tank normally picked him up. Interesting... As usual his GPS signal was obfuscated to a two block bubble. He was somewhere in that bubble, though the com would not provide an exact location.
----------------
Book was at a coffee shop when he fully enabled TeamNet®. Tank arrived a sort time later, looking especially spry and clear for the time of morning... it almost concerned Book.

As they walk into the taco bar, both note the noise level and both note with a little humor how System does like to eat. Book calls up a pair of watchers to keep astral watch for eaves droppers and astral trackers.

The duo make their way to the ork's booth and slide in. Book realizes it has been a while since he has eaten and is pleasantly surprised at the quality of food. A notch or two above the hacker's normal fare. "I have to give you credit . This looks good." the shaman says with a smile.
<<@Team [Book] Scary? The map was scary. I assume you mean absolutely horrifying?>>