Atlanta 2070, Hot time in the old town tonight Options

[Redjack]

Book returns to his body. "Ok. Same as it was, lets get it." He disregards his gut telling him that the area is too heavily warded. Overkill is a sign of the paranoid.

Tank raises a hand. "Security is just too light. Run down neighborhood.. Just one guard watching porn. There should be cameras at least. We need a view inside. We need to scout the buildings on the perimeter."

"Now who's being para-" Book pauses in mid-sentence, then frowns. "Ok. Perhaps you have a point. There is an inconsistency. There is a lot of warding. Too much not to be augmented by some cameras at least."

Tank moves the fly-spy into a wider pattern, starting with the school, then moving around the buildings bordering the airport. "I'm searching the neighborhood first." He turns to System, "Can you start scanning for wireless signals?"

Book nods in agreement, then steps out of his body to begin a search of the surrounding buildings as well.

[ludomastro]

Tank notes multiple drug sales near the neighborhood and then spots a group of people dressed in dark clothes. Each is sporting a yellow bandanna and a blue tatoo. A young troll is beating an older human senseless in the circle.

At the last second, he spots two figures in obvious military garb sighting in on the warehouse. The ork is looking through a set of binoculars and the human is running through a cleaning routine. Tank recognizes it as a sniper checking his gear.

-----

Book's trip to the astral doesn't reveal anything new other than a weak magical presence in the housing project. A young human girl is drawing mana around her while a male ork and a female human are arguing in a near-by room. As he storms over to her location, the mana crystalizes into a simple invisibility spell. Book gets a feeling of frustration from him but relief from the girl.

-----

System pipes up and says, "Uhh, guys. There is a bubble of no wireless inside those buildings. Not a low quality wireless signal. It's either active and/or passive denial.."

[Redjack]

Tank outlines the duo in TeamNet. "System: Got two for you." He ponders a moment. Thinking like a trickster is something new to the former tanker. I need to find out who the rival gang is. I have an idea.

Book finishes his rounds. Nothing. He returns to his body ready to move on in and get this over with. As he starts to open his mouth, he notices TeamNet. He closes his mouth without a word, pauses a moment, then speaks. "What do you got?"

"Snipers. What did you find?"

"Nothing else of consequence."

Tank nods. " We need some intel. We need to know if the local gang is paid off. We need to know what those guys support and comunication protocols are."

"We need secrets."

Tank nods again. "Yea. We need their secrets."

The shaman steels his gaze and in turn his resolve. "The hard way is quicker." Tank looks at the shaman, unsure of the change overtaking the normally non-violent teammate. "I need one of the snipers. Once I.... relieve him of his secrets, then we'll have those answers."

[Redjack]

After looking over the area, Book turns to System. "Gonna need you to take over their coms. We need to monitor their communications. Before we take them down, we need to make sure that we don't bring double the smoke down on us. I could read one of them from a distance, but the power of spell required would probably alert them."

[ludomastro]

No sooner is the request made than a dwarf with a pickaxe appears near System. He disappears in decreasing resolution as a peculiar yet familiar song fades with him.

... it's off to work I go ...

System pipes up, "He should have something in a minute. So, what's the game plan once we have info on these two? Wait, getting a feed."

System flips two virtual gems to his teammates which become AR windows. One shows the view from cybereyes and imposes a bit of vertigo as the subject moves his head. The other is a chat window apparently from the other.

<<@ %^8#24 [9~`23#4] You sure the scramble algorithm we picked up is working?>>

<<@ 234%53 [23$$%4] You don't see the gang on our ass do you?>>

<<@ 314159 [2817#] Yeah, I know, I know. Just, I want to get paid for watching the place and not geeked for being on the wrong turf. I don't like working without the whole team.>>

<<@ 5%5^55 [09^&3#] Tell me about it. But we've got to pay off their medical bills somehow. Besides, Tinman will be back from that solo run soon and then you'll be drinking with the ladies again.>>

<<@ ##3444 [#@67&] What exactly are we looking for and are you going to be ready with the mojo when it comes?>>

<<@ $$5%% [*88**#] The J said that another team will be along eventually to extract some cargo from that building. And you know I've got the mojo, I just don't exactly know what my last trip out there gave me.>>

<<@ $#33#% [&678#] You mages have a weird way to 'upgrade'. Did I mention that?>>

[Redjack]

Book listens to the feed then speaks. "Magical; I wish I had that magic fingers spell. It would be REAL helpful right now." Tank starts to speak, but Book continues. "In any case, we should strike hard and fast. Then I'll extract their secrets."

Tank shakes his head. "Let's play the gang route. We need to distract the locals and play the chaos."

Book grimaces. "Time is against us."

"Strength of the opposition is against us more."

Book retains his grimace. Tank's point is valid. "It's gotta be fast. What's your plan?"

The former tanker rubs his chin. "Not really got much of a plan beyond that. Cause some chaos by mixing the gangers up, bring in the other gang."

Book smiles. "Check this: If these guys are here and avoiding the local gang, then they're not paying for the privilege. The locals aren't gonna be happy about that. The easier plan is for us to get in good with the locals, rat out these two, assist with taking them down and dig the secrets out of their minds."

"But if this goes bad, then its us against the gang... And I'm betting you're sending my ass in there alone?"

We've danced this dance before. "Yea, but the crossfire of two gangs could be REALLY bad."

Tank nods, but still contradicts the shaman. "Worse than one gang turning on us?"

"Ok, try this angle. Who's gonna be easier to motivate to assist us? A gang whose turf has been encroached or a gang we're asking to start a turf war?"

Tank raises a hand to object, then stops. "Point taken. Ok. Local gang then. Yellow bandanna. Blue tattoo." He turns to System. "We have a name for them? Any details?"

[ludomastro]

"Northport Irregulars is my best guess but the gang situation here is fuzzy at best. I don't have a lot of good data to go on. The police files are a mess. It's not the Star here, the locals are called the Tuscaloosa Metro Area Police or TMAP. They can't find their ass with both hands and a head start. Sorry, but we're flying a hair better than blind on this one."

-----

<<@ %^8#24 [9~`23#4] The Irregulars are about ready to make their move.>>

<<@ 937%%6 [234$54] So the Yellow Dogs are going to be occupied for a while. Why do we care again?>>

<<@ $$334$ [#4%%63#] We don't get geeked when they are fighting over turf.>>

<<@ 8**7#2 [~`4] So are we going to die waiting on the other team?>>

<<@ %^8#24 [9~`23#4] Look, omae, we get paid either way. Just wait and watch.>>

[Redjack]

Tank snaps his fingers after he has an inspiration. With a devilish smile he turns to System. "Sounds like the two gangs are about to mix it up anyway. What say we- and when I say 'we', I mean 'you', hack their com-links and put foe markers on these guys for both gangs?"

Book looks over at the team's driver. "That is pretty inspired. Though I should probably should make sure the mage goes down. We should move into position." With that, the shaman pulls his hood over his head and activates the chameleon suit. Tank does the same. Then the duo head out.

[ludomastro]

"Alright, here goes."

A pair of fox-ninja slips through the AR toward the various gangs. The ninja slice through the substandard comms and give System power over the AR.

<<@ Team [System] Done. I'll switch on targeting as soon as you give the word. Be careful out there.

-----

Tank and Book slip through the partial light with ease. The ork looks up at one point but his gaze doesn't linger on the pair. They find themselves within short distance and can soon hear footsteps coming right for them!

[Redjack]

Both slowly turn, trying not to give away their position anymore than it might already be compromised....

[ludomastro]

A mixed group humans, orks, a couple of trolls and an unusually tall dwarf file right past the duo. As they try to be as still as possible Tank steps on a stick.

One of the gangers looks in his direction but doesn't focus on Tank so much as the team behind him.

In a loud whisper he calls to the others in the gang, "Oye! Miren alla."

The group drops and begins pulling weapons.

[Redjack]

Some days I should just keep my ass in bed. Tank ceases moving and hardly breathing. This is suddenly far from the best place to be. He spools his smartgun camera feed to a datafile. I may need a bargaining chip later.

Book holds as well, knowing they are about to be downrange of a fire. He focuses his attention on the duo that will soon be sending fire this direction. The only consolation is that the gangers just put themselves between us and the mercs. Knowing that the gangers are currently less threat than the mercs, he prepares spell defense for them.

Tank pulls his fly-spy back overhead. He uses it to better asses their own, current tactical position.

[Redjack]

Once the tactical feed becomes clear, Tank muses. I think I now understand what a frog in a blender feels like.

Book on the other hand considers that tactics must change. This is one of those times a levitate spell would have made the plan decidedly easier.

Lacking other options, the duo stay prone and wait, hoping that if it does break out now that they don't get killed in the crossfire.

[ludomastro]

"Tengo uno en linea."

"Tira!"

The ganger let's loose with a very loud, old model Predator. The duo of opposing Shadowrunners is caught off guard but the youth is a horrible shot. Return fire begins to fall and the battle is joined.

<<@ Team [System] Heads up boys! I think I can jam the mage's gun but I can do any thing with the sam or the gangers: the stuff has no wireless. I've got an idea!>>

In the AR, twenty rough silhouettes pop up wearing gang colors behind the mercs as well as the gangers right next to Tank and Book.

"Oyen! Ambos lados!"
"Hay que ser una mintira: no tienen tante gente."

<<@ Team [System] Get out of there you daisy eaters, it's not going to hold long.>>

[Redjack]

<<@Tank [Book] I think he means us.>>

<<@Book [Tank] We're not elves.>>

<<@Tank [Book] Even so....>>

Book takes a moment and casts invisibility to augment his suit. Realizing that the sustained spell actually would inhibit his ability to move silently, he drops the spell and calls his bound spirit of earth. Conceal us.

The duo then begin to cautiously move towards where the gangers came from.

[ludomastro]

The firestorm that results from the frenzy sends lead flying in several directions. Between the spirit's concealment and the suits, the duo is able to slip away without being noticed. The difficult part will come in trying to dodge the hail of lead.

[Redjack]

The duo put their butts into serious motion when the lead begins to fly, deciding that being invisible and dead is still dead.

[ludomastro]

Miraculously, the duo finds they have escaped the ensuing firefight unscathed.

<<@ Tank,Book [System] That. Was. Awesome!!! Like in that trideo sim - Action Force, not the remake, the original where Major Judd ... sorry. I lost it for a second there.>>

If his voice weren't enough, the duo is treated to oversized AR troll hands giving them the thumbs up.

The is some activity at the warehouse as the sleeping guard is roused back from his slumber and heads for the central building where Book's spirit indicated Digger was being held.

[Redjack]

Book, never the thrill seeker, is pleased only to have escaped but not to have come so close to dying in the process.

Tank on the hand is tickled to death.
<<@Team [Tank] Hell yea! Sign me up, pay me a million and give me the honeys!>>

Tank takes the lead heading for the warehouse and Book falls in right behind.

[ludomastro]

As they get closer to the building both of them are treated to a transformation of sorts. The roof panels and lights begin to move as the central building shifts around to reveal a heavily armored perimeter defense system.

[ludomastro]

The duo gets a very uneasy feeling but can't place exactly why. Somehow it is more than simply a defensive system activating.

<<@ Team [System] What exactly is going on? I have all kinds of activity but I'm not sure what I'm looking at. The signal doesn't look like what I would expect for an alarm.>>

[Redjack]

An ancient song rolled through Dalton's head. You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run... He came sliding to a stop, reaching out an arm to block Book's advance. He crouches.
<<@Team [Tank] This is broken. There is a time to cut and run and that time is now.>>

Book looks at the adept, both their faces hidden by not only their masks but the chameleon effects of the suits. He wants to push past his teammate and rush in, his emotions running in high gear. He feels pulled in both directions; His heart pulling him forward to their friend, his mind pulling him away from this trap. He stammers silently, unable to commit either direction.

Tank senses the apprehension.
<<@Team [Tank] This is a trap and it is springing. We have no intel and we are over extended. Digger may very well be there, but he might as well be on the moon for our ability to reach him. If we are leaving this place any other way but in a body bag, we must leave now.>>

Tank leads the shaman back towards the cruiser, the spirit and the suits concealing them.

[ludomastro]

<<@ Team [System] So, uh, does that mean that we are leaving? I ask 'cause T-MAP is on its way and I would rather avoid them if at all possible. I just don't have the cash to bribe them given their going rates.>>

There are sirens heard in the distance.

[Redjack]

As the duo make their way back to the cruiser and quickly load up, Tank considers a better use for the approaching cruisers.
<<@System/Team [Tank] Can you forge a PANIC button alert into the T-MAP system and show it coming from inside the building?>>

Book looks over at Tank as the suggestion is mode.
<<@Tank [Book] Holy hell. That would have made an awesome plan.>>

[ludomastro]

<<@ Team [System] Sure. That's easy. Give me a minute.>>

A few minutes later, T-MAP cruisers are flooding the area and one is heading over to the compound. The security guard steps out of the building and begins talking with the officer.