IC: Down in the Puyallups with Team #3, Kilroy's latest venture, this time its corporate Options

[Redjack]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:01:33AM; Auburn

Sam's bike comes squealing to a stop behind the car as the guards exit from either side. An MP-5 is clearly visible with the driver, a shotgun in the hands of the passenger. Masked by the invisibility spell, Sam's gun clears the holster and fires not once but twice before either realize that they are under attack. The darts strikes each squarely in the chest and they fall to the ground as the voltage surges through their bodies. Sam's verbal commands to the team's new hacker immediately yield a *click* and the raising of the trunk.

Spades and Ramses sit in the idling car as the seconds tick by. The scene is passing fast as clean from their vantage point.

[ Spoiler ]

Perception (visual) for each. +3dp for actively looking. -2dp sustaining spell for Ramses.

[Redjack]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:01:33:03AM; Auburn

Sam quickly walks the bike forward and reaches toward the trunk.... to find a spare tire.

[Redjack]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:01:33:03AM; Auburn

[ Spoiler ]

Inits:
- Jazz = 13(3M)
- Spades = 12(1)
- Sam = 11(3)
- Guards = 11(?)
- Ramses = 7(1)

Jazz continues running a sniffer from Sam's com unit on the nearby nodes intercepting traffic. There is definitely an increase in com traffic immediately following the courier's vehicle being disabled. On the street, a car passes from between Spades' car and the target's vehicle.... Spades however continues to watch passing traffic and does not notice. For Sam, her spider sense is tingling something fierce as she starts turning the corner to inspect inside the car. The armed courier on the passenger side (the side she was going around to search for the package) fires the shotgun as she moves around the side of the vehicle.

[ Spoiler ]

Ok, Sam was moving to tranq him. Her combat sense foiled surprise, though it did not completely save her. Her biggest issue is that the shotgun is firing shot, so there is a spread. How does she react?

[Redjack]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:01:33:03AM; Auburn

Jazz begins working on the new signals in the area. Several are 9-1-1 calls being initiated by concerned citizens.

Sam comes around the corner of the car to see the dazes guard waving the gun under the car and shooting generally where she was a moment ago. Pretty good guess on his part, but the invisibility was obviously working as he didn't see her come around the car. Sam sees three packages in the back of the car.

[ Spoiler ]

The guard has no more actions. Ramses is technically up next. Then Jazz & Sam have two more actions before he even thinks about going again.

[SoyKaf Adict]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:01:33:03AM; Auburn
Spades

Of all the times for him to remember that he'd left his Commlink on hidden, but not invisible. So, when the forwarded message reached the device, it vibrated twice. Startled, Spades jumped slightly, wondering who the hell it is that would be messaging him this time of day. As he accessed his commlink for the message he jumped to the conclusion that it may be that little number he picked up last night requesting a reprise of the night. He eagerly read the message only to find out it was junk mail. Probably forwarded through one of the local nodes spilling out ads to unidentified PANs. He grumbled under his breath as he looked at the message displayed on his glasses.

"The only problem with wanting to be unknown, it just makes advertisements want to harass you more."

He looked back up trying to re-center his vision off of AR and back into meatland.

[Redjack]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:01:33:03AM; Auburn

Dirtz releases a stunbolt and the driver slumps against the car. Jazz begins to work on the signals she is able to isolate. She quickly realizes why late night runs and runs in a Barrens are so much easier to control.

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:01:33:04AM; Auburn

Sam's additional stick-n-shocks send the guard into a fit of convulsions. He begins to vomit in the mist of the spasms. He is no longer a threat.

Spades looks over towards the car to see everything under control. The bike sits behind the car. Several doors are open and he sees one guard down, leaning against the car. Seems like Sam took them all out in one shot.

[ Spoiler ]

Sam has one remaining action this turn. What's next?

[Gray]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:02 AM; Auburn
Sam; PAN = Stealth

After determining the correct package, Sam retrieved it from the back seat of the couriers' car. She put it in her mesh carry bag, drove across the street and passed it off to Ramses.

"Here, take this, professor. My guess is we shouldn't get it too wet."

Then she took off in the light drizzle, taking a seperate route to rendezvous with the others back at Ramses' place. She had to consciously tell her self to obey the speed limit, but after a few minutes she calmed down and enjoyed the ride, even if it was in somewhat less than optimal conditions.

[SoyKaf Adict]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:02 AM; Auburn
Spades; PAN=Stealth

It was over before he knew it. One second he was trying to concentrate on the battle, the next second that flew by his head like a barely missed shot, Sam was next to the car passing off the parcel to Ramses' curious hands. She had spoken her piece and was on her way again. Spades was more than anxious to get on the road, he wrapped himself tighter in his white sheet makeshift babushka outfit as he put the car in drive, he made sure the machine pistol in his lap made it discreetly back into the box... Safety on, before they moved.

"Mind putting that in the back so it's not as obvious? I'm getting my Mary Magdalene hoop outta here."

He let the GPS do the navigation of the main streets until they hit highway, keeping at a leisurely pace of the city speed limit. Once the glorious stretch of open road happened upon them he would be much less shaky. Somewhere midway between traffic lights, he tore away the sheet and threw it back over his shoulder on top of his cardboard box. He was just one car among many now, and safely unattached to the crime at hand, at least as far as cameras could go, and hopefully this new hacker was as good as Spades assumed they were.

[ Spoiler ]

HIS cardboard box is set inside the foot well right behind the driver's seat, so there shouldn't be that much trouble reaching behind and tossing the sheet straight on top.

[Thanee]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:02 AM; Auburn
Jazz

While Jazz continues her work in the Matrix, the decker sends a message to the team.

<< [Jazz] I see you are moving already. Very good. The Star will show up here sooner or later. I'm gonna wrap things up here and then head back to safer realms myself. >>

Jazz goes on to remove any traces she can find and also removes the spoofed IDs from the logs. After going back to another node, she grants her own commlink and the one from the team she was working through another ID spoof right away.

[Redjack]

Monday March 17, 2070; ~10:20:AM; Puyallup City, Puyallup

Jazz cleans up what traces she can of the team's passing. The only one's that cause concern are any left before she spoofed all the IDs. Once she spoofed the IDs, all that was left in any log was a dead end. Having p0wned the camera covering the parking lot, she feels much more comfortable that video of their passing would be cleansed from her end.

The team meanwhile made their way out of the district, avoiding the Star squad cars converging on the scene. Once they crossed back into Puyallup city, they breathed a collective sigh of relief at having gotten their collective hoops back to a district with a much lower security rating.

---------

Shadowscene Tabloid-Feed
The scene queues up to a dark studio. The silhouette of a shapely elven woman opens the scene. "Roxy-Bottoms reporting for Shadowscene Seattle. This just in from the Auburn. A team pulled a run in the last twenty minutes in broad daylight. Here is what we know:"

The scene cuts to grainy video. By the level and motion, it appears to have been shot from the camera on a com from across and down the street from where Spades was parked. It is focused on the bike at the back of the delivery car. The car's front doors are open on both sides, then the back door opens on the passenger side. A package levitates out and a voices can be heard in the background, "Are they shooting a trid?" "No way dude. This is the real deal!" "No way!" The package floats out the door and over the bike. The bike then moves across the street to a car (Spade's car). The package disappears inside and by vehicles exit the lot. "Was that magic?" "It had to be! Did you get the driver?" "Can't tell. Maybe the video will come out.."

The video replays without the recording time commentary, the tabloid reporter providing the narrative this time. "Major mojo here. I'm told that Star counter magic units are on the scene now collecting evidence along side forensic investigators. We are still waiting for a team to claim responsibility as well and will update you if that occurs." Lamination increases off stage left, though it does not add to the viewers ability to discern the features of the reporter. "The contents of the package are unknown, as are the names of either the shipper or the receiver. It is unclear if the magic was levitation based, invisibility or a spirit though my sources are saying invisibility. It appears that we have a team of two runners, maybe three. Wait-"

There is a pause, then she starts speaking again. "An unnamed source also confirms that security cameras in the area were tampered with. So we have magical and matrix-" she again pauses. "Ok, stick-n-shock add a shooter. Speculation from our experts place the team size at three. One shooter, one mage and a hacker."

The story continues with speculation about the the corp that was hit as well as an interview with the young man and woman who shot the video.

[Gray]

Monday March 17, 2070; ~10:30AM; Ramses' Apartment, Downtown, Puyallup Barrens
Sam;PAN=passive[LTG] SIN=Roxanne Vega

Sam found a place to park her bike acros the street from the Professor's apartment. A light drizzle was still falling, and her clothing was soaked since her makeshift rain protection had failed in several places. Her long coat still kept the bulk of the rain off of her, but she was too wet to care at this point. She waited until the traffic subsided, then she crossed the street, and too refuge under the awning leading into Ramses' apartment building. She took off her helmet, and shifted from side to saide to try to stay warm while she awaited her companions' arrival.

<<@Jazz [Sam] If you home in on my signal, you can meet me at the rendezvous, amiga. >>

[Thanee]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:30 AM; Auburn
Jazz

<< [Jazz] Sure thing. I'm on my way. Did you get the video? There might be a few more, but they shouldn't help them much. Biggest worry is your com IDs, before I could get them a set of new ones. If you ran them in stealth all the time, it should at least be difficult to get any useful information out of that. Oh, and what about the vehicles? If those can be traced back to you, you should do something about it. >>

After sending the message, Jazz jumps on her bike and drives towards the rendevous point.

[SoyKaf Adict]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:18AM; HWY 167, Pullayup Outskirts.
Spades; PAN=Active; SIN=Sam Gorret

Spades was unconvinced they'd gotten away fully, but being on the highway with nothing except open road, and the occasional car, made him relax greatly. They were almost to the turn off into real Pullayup territory, and while he was relaxing he felt social now, unlike some 15 minutes ago when it was a 'get the hell out of dodge' situation. Spades also detested the empty sound of rain reverberating through the silent cab of his car.

"So, you always been a mojo man, Ramses? Is that what got you into 'Running, or was it after you were already in the shadows?"


Monday March 17, 2070; 10:29AM; Downtown, Puyallup Barrens
The drive through upper Pullayup city was dreadful with the foot traffic and broken-down cars dotting the urban landscape. This place was hell if there every was going to be a location suitable enough, and everyone had that sign of knowing that all over their faces. It was a slow haul, but they would make it to Ramses place within the hour... maybe two... Maybe this weekend. He envied Sam's mobility that the bike could offer. However, he didn't envy the knowledge that there was a very wet, cranky, possibly worried Elf waiting on them. They would get there soon, or not at all, that was the way of things.

[Redjack]

Monday March 17, 2070; ~10:18AM; HWY 167, Pullayup Outskirts

Ramses replies to Spades, "Funding actually. Without a corporate sponsor, magical research is out of the financial reach of most. The shadows provide an alternate source of income to corporations or governments." After answering the question, he looks outside the window for a moment before getting distracted with something in AR.

Monday March 17, 2070; ~10:45AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens

Spades pulled the car into the parking lot of the Forbidden City Chinese Restaurant on Main Street in Puyallup City. They open early and the buffer is reasonable as long as you don't ask where the meat comes from. The team easily finds a place to sit, well ahead of the lunch rush.

After hot tea is delivered, Ramses gets up, appearing very distracted. "Sorry, I can't stay for lunch." He pauses a moment. "I have something I need to take care of."

Monday March 17, 2070; ~10:55AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens

Another ten minutes pass, just Sam and Spades, before an attractive woman walks up to the table. Team Net identifies her as Jazz.

[Thanee]

Monday March 17, 2070; 10:55 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Jazz

The blonde woman, dressed in a light colored jeans outfit complemented by a green top that leaves her midriff exposed and is definitely meant to underline her slender figure, immediately reckognizes the two (she has seen them on the camera before after all) and walks up to their table, setting up a friendly smile, her gaze wandering between them both.

"Sorry, that I have kept you waiting. I'm Jazz. Nice to meet you."

[SoyKaf Adict]

Monday March 17, 2070; 11:05 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Spades

Spades had been somewhat worried, Ramses had been acting quite distracted already, not withstanding his new tendency to disappear with hardly a word as to where he was going. He mentally shrugged, as long as he wasn't some corporate spy, Spades was amiable.

With the arrival of their mysterious Matrix Guru of the hour, Spades had had plenty of time to wash his mind of what troubled him, bringing him to matter at hand. He was 1 v 2 with a couple of fairly attractive women, something he'd been silently thanking the Almighty for the past 10 minutes. Introductions had taken place, orders were taken, and drinks served... Victory meal number one. The chatter was idle, and definitely not work oriented. The less rumors and hearsay reached the ears of others, the better. Mostly the topic of conversation now was how the food tended to move if you weren't staring straight at it. Another one of his crowd-pleasing mindless humor numbers. This was a point in time he'd have been happy to still be in bed waiting for his late night shifts at Shackles, at least there he was doing legal things. Yet, in the case of illegal acts, the only reason stealing that courier package was illegal was because it was from a corporation, they could care less what was stolen in the Pullayups, as long as it wasn't from them. Greedy slots. He interjected in a moment of awkward silence, while they idly drank their beverages, referring his question to Jazz.

"So, whats it like to cruise the big data highways? I get on only when I have to, just doesn't feel right after a while. Maybe I'm just not built for it, or I should get myself more chrome to truly understand. Either way, I'm talking the BIG ones, not this public access mumbo-jumbo."

He had a slight far away look as he tried to picture the excitement of hacking a mainframe, before she began speaking.

[Gray]

Monday March 17, 2070; 11:05 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Sam

Sam took a sip of her Diet Coke, in an effor not to chime in over Spades' chit-chat. Then she opend up the paper-wrapepd bamboo chopsticks and dug into her noodles an broccoli. She didn't trust the meat in the place, and the veggies looked real anyway. She caught Spades staring at her a few times.

I wonder what the Raging Hormone is thinking?

Then she caught him starign a Jazz.

No way. Typical, I suppose...

"What he meant to say was welcome aboard, Jazz!" Sam interjected after finishing a bite of noodles.

[Thanee]

Monday March 17, 2070; 11:05 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Jazz

"You have to go full VR to truely understand, of course a 'trode net won't do it, the connection isn't as clean as a direct hook-up to the brain via a 'jack or built-in com. And you need the right hardware and software as well. It's like the difference between driving a Jackrabbit and a Westwind. What it's like? Hard to explain with mere words. It's huge. It's freedom. You can do or be whatever you want... well, there are some constraints, of course, but not many. It's like being inside the veins and arteries of a human body, just that instead of blood they transport information at the speed of light. Probably more like the nervous system, but you get the idea. And it's not just one, it's millions joint together. Everything can be found there, if you just dig deep enough. And then there is the excitement of getting into places you are not supposed to be at, of course. I believe you know that feeling very well, even from another perspective."

[SoyKaf Adict]

Monday March 17, 2070; 11:05 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Spades

Spades raised his eyebrow at Sam as her little outburst dripped contempt for his interest in VR. With Jazz not skipping a moment to describe her experience in the Virtual world with another soul, at least this hadn't brought the conversation to a stand still. He was knee deep in interest, processing the description and forming his own picture of unhindered exploration of the universe that was VR. He spoke out of some meaning to correct Sam's perhaps jealous misinterpretation of his "priorities."

"Yes, in a way, I had meant to say we welcome you to the group Jazz that goes without saying, but I had to hear from experience how it must feel. It satiates my curiosity for this moment. Sam and I are both fairly tied to our meat bodies, but yes a good B&E can be quite entertaining, not to mention exhilarating. Just as likely to be the last mission, as any other. We use bullets and coercion, you use code and back door programs. All the same, and all very necessary."

He moved his hands in tandem with the motions of his descriptions, telling a good story was just like conducting a symphony... Even if you felt as if you could speak the directions, moving one's hands was a requirement for it to continue and flow forward. Ending on his hands clasping together to signify necessity, his eyes fell on Sam after he was finished.

"And we all make mistakes in judging our opposition, it's the only way we learn and grow up to be larger than life. Or die trying."

He looked to Jazz as he continued.

"Not my first choice mind you. Yet, inevitably, we will find that one Mr. Johnson that throws us that last raw deal. I'm all for staying one step ahead. Jazz, this guy shouldn't be too hard to get info on. Not Kilroy, but our own little Mr. Johnson, who I think you haven't met yet. I would personally love to know if he's on the level before we shine too much light on our faces doing these jobs for him. Call me cautious, but for our sakes, this should be done as soon as a free moment presents itself. Considering your expertise with VR, and from what reputation would allow... Great skill as well. I'm wondering if you haven't done it already."

His smile brazen with a flash of mischief.

[Thanee]

Monday March 17, 2070; 11:06 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Jazz

"Well, I got this call from Kilroy when you were already about to start, so there wasn't exactly a whole lot of time for preparations or anything else. I can surely take a look around, but it would be helpful to actually know who this person is, some point to start at least. So what do you know? Besides, so far there hasn't been any talk about compensations or target specifications, but given that Kilroy has been recommended by someone I can usually trust, I just went along. And trust is, while not always possible, something we just have to live with in our line of work. It would be nice to know at some point, what the details of this job are, however."

[Gray]

Monday March 17, 2070; 11:07 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Sam

Sam finished a bite of her noodles before replying to Jazz, "Well I can vouch for Kilroy. I've never "met" him, but I've worked with him for a while and he's never let me down. I agree with Spades ...did I just say that?... it's Johnson I don't trust. I half think he was the one that set up our little debut on the Tabloid Feed. I'd at least like to KNOW that he didn't."

"As for the job, in a nutshell the arrangements were: intercept 3 packages. YOU being a subcontractor will throw off the salary quotes, so I'll just give totals here: 3,000 for the first package, 6,000 for the second package, and 7,500 for the third. Details forthcoming 20 minutes before the job comes down... at least for the first package. Dreky, huh?"

Then she smiled coyly and patted Spades on the knee. Just as quickly, her face went hard, flushed red and she caught Spades with a pointed elbow under the floating ribs. A few stray noodles landed on top of his head as she scolded, "Underestimate THIS, pretty boy. I didn't see you doing too much when the lead started flying. It looked to me like you were checking out some scantily clad jogger and NOT paying attention. I'm all for playing hard, but you gotta WORK hard first. You gotta keep your hoop in THIS game, Spades, or you won't last long in the Shadows."

Then in a brief moment of remorse, she added, "I apologize for the snap judgement... maybe you're not a player. But even an invisible BUTT hanging out in the breeze is vulnerable without good backup... I miss the professor..."

She went back to eating he noodles, and a marked frown was still on her face.

[SoyKaf Adict]

Monday March 17, 2070; 11:07 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Spades

She may have been surprised, but then again in the Shadows it got to be a habit, but as her hit landed she noticed her hand hurt a lot more than it should for jacking someone's rib cage. She was rewarded by a grimace and a slight coughing fit, but little more.

I should've seen that coming... Then again, a fire is never tamed by a fan.

He coughed slightly, even managing to unconsciously apply etiquette, with the covering of his mouth. He straightened his back, as a twinge of pain made itself evident on his face.

"... Just because the Star tends to be tardy ninet-- *cough* --y percent of the time, doesn't mean they always are. Surely, if it's not the Star we're going to be worrying about, it'll be the increasing security measures used by the courier's company. Don't worry, you'll see me-- *cough* -- in action soon enough. But we all have our nifty secrets."

He smirked knowingly in spite of the inconvenience. The effort was made more to cover his current weakness, then to have them wonder what all he could do.

[Thanee]

Monday March 17, 2070; 11:08 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Jazz

"I see. Not a whole lot of time for preparations. Anyways, speaking of the data search you want me to do. That still doesn't give me enough information to actually start. Johnson. You know how common that name is?" Jazz says, winking.

[Gray]

Monday March 17, 2070; 11:09 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Sam

Sam thought about that for a moment, and responded, "You know... I don't think we really have enough yet to really track that gringo down yet. I kknow I didn't record any video of the guy. You coudl do facial recognition if we had that, at least..."

"Maybe check back into Zephyr Securities and see what kind of mierda we kicked up there?"

[Thanee]

Monday March 17, 2070; 11:09 AM; Forbidden City, Puyallup City, Puyallup Barrens
Jazz

"OK, I'll see what I can come up with... any more details about what happened from your perspective would be welcome, and helpful."

Jazz then begins a (fairly harmless) data search for Zephyr Securities for starters.

[ Spoiler ]

Data Search + Browse + VR - 3 Hits