IC: Post or Die, Lifelines, and deadlines Options

[Sephiroth]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:52am, Cross-town

Back in his body now, Jovan rubbed his snow white hands together in anticipation as he listened to the backlog of team chatter from his commlink. Ideas were forming in his head for outmaneuvering Archer, Charles, and the Vipers: ideas that put an amused smile on his face. But he needed time to fully flesh them out. That was what the rest of this evening would be for.

<<@team: Leave the talk of plotting and analysis of the conspiracy to me, everyone. I excel at such things, and I am not about to let this conspiracy be our undoing. So now that we are out of that den of vipers and death, I'm going to need to put together a plan for all of us, I suppose. Some parts will have to wait until we receive our newest replacement, who I assure you will come soon. That may not be until morning, however. In any case, shall we recapitulate what we know of the situation and our opponents at this point?>>

[Warlordtheft]

Fragging Jovie's got some superiority complex, thinkin he'z the only one who shoulda be thinkin about da deal goin bad. Dat bein said were about to get to da tricky par of da trip. Zo takes out the used clips and refills them with spare bullets.

<@team>I'z a thinking dat we take an route north, hit da 405 and blend in wit traffic towards da docks. Da gangs dat run dat portion of redmond are most likely drunk, chipped, high or passed out by dis point of da night.

[Notsoevildm]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:52am, Touristville

Ferret pulls the convoy into a lot on the edge of Touristville. Zo's suggested route makes sense and he updates the pilot programs of the trucks and his van to take a roundabout route that will bring them to Oz's warehouse without going through any AAA security zones.

<<@team: Sounds good Zo, but it might be better if we spilt up the convoy a little. I suggest Oz takes the lead in his SUV with one of the trucks following along. His blimp can provide fire support if needed and in any case he needs to be at the warehouse first to disable his security system. Zo and Prof, you should take the second truck. I've programmed in a route to Oz's place but with the two of you in it one can drive and the other ride shotgun just in case you hit any trouble. I'll bring up the rear in my van with the last truck following on autopilot. I'll also provide matrix overwatch along the way. Sound good?>>

He tightens his seat belt and slumps back in the driver's seat. His electronic self rises out of the chair into the van's node. With its more powerful wireless he can see the nodes of Seattle's matrix laid out before him. He quickly identifies the second truck and slaves it to his comm, leaving the first truck under Oswald's control. His silver form shivers with fear/excitement, his body twitching in sympathy, as he prepares to move back out into the connected world.

[pbangarth]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:52am, Touristville

Professor hikes himself up into the driver's seat of the truck. <<@team: Sounds good to me. Zo should be the shooter. I'll take the wheel. Haven't driven somthing this big in a while, but ... it's like riding a bicycle, right?>>

[Warlordtheft]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:52am, Touristville

"We gots two vans, a bike, an three big rigs. We have 4 people, me, prof, ferret, an Oz. As far as I know Jovie cant drive in da astral, so he'd have to get his meat bod here if he wants to be of help. Ferret an I can leave our rides here in Crush Turf. That leaves us wit a van and the 3 big rigs, the question is how we gonna do this trip. One rig at a time? I like dat as we could be close enough ta help each other should things go south. If we take all three at once it'd be suspicious, but again we could still be close enough to help each other out. Seperately, if things go south or one of us gets greedy, aint nothing the rest of da team can do."

An I would so take this load an sell it myself if dere weren't so many heavily armed interested third parties.

"Also, if we wait a bit, till like 4:00 or sumthin close, I am pretty sure da gangers would be asleep or passed out. RIght now dey is just high."

[Notsoevildm]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:52am, Touristville

Ferret yawns, stretching his arms and rubbing his eyes.

It's been a long day. A couple of hours sleep wouldn't go wrong... that and maybe something to eat too.

<<@team: I wouldn't mind a short break for food and a quick nap, so leaving at 0400 sounds good to me. I also like the idea of taking one truck at a time, although three runs means three times the chance of someone noticing them, so maybe take two in the first run and one in the second. Should be able to do both runs by 0600 when rush hour starts. But that only works if Zo can get the Crush to look after my van and the other truck without emptying them. My van should be safe as I do some work for them, but don't tell them what's in the truck or they will empty it.>>

He glances in the rear view mirror. Getting Zo's bike and the crate of assault rifles in the back had meant tidying everything off his workbench and rearranging all his gear to fit it in. But he knew it would all be safe with the Crush as long as they paid them some cash up front.

[pbangarth]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:52am, Touristville

Professor mulls over the options. <<@team: We have to weigh the dangers of traveling all at once against those of doing separate trips. The former can be alleviated to some degree by following Zo's advice and leaving when the gangs are likely to be lulled into inattention or even sleep. If Ferret can get autopilots to work on the trucks, then we can make do with the drivers we have even with all the vehicles. If we split the cargo transport, it will take longer and give more time for those who got away down below to get involved again. Who knows who is being told we have the trucks right now. Of course, that problem could arise if we wait three hours as Zo suggests. But we've been going a long time, are tired, and could use the rest. Jovan could probably benefit from getting back to his meat body for a while, otherwise we could be traveling when he hits his astral time limit.

I think we should stick together and keep the cargo together as well. We can rest a couple of hours here, all together, and then head out. I can keep watch both on the physical and the astral and give warning if something comes our way. Any thoughts?>>

[Notsoevildm]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:52am, Touristville

Ferret's stomach rumbles. He can almost smell the soyburgers from inside his van.

<<@team: That was kinda my first idea. The new pilot programs BDLL created are better than the one in my van. The trucks already followed us here to Touristville without any problems and that's negotiating burnt out wrecks and potholes. I can easily program them to follow Oz's car back to his warehouse. I might be able to get them to do more, but need food and sleep first.

I say we wait here for an hour or two, then do a quick dash up 405 before rush hour. Oz leads in his Rover and provides air support, Prof and Jove cover the astral, Jove from the Rover, Prof from my van. I'll watch the matrix. And Zo rides shotgun on his bike and shoots any hopped up gangers who haven't passed out by then. Now can we get some food?>>

[Warlordtheft]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:53am, Touristville

<<@team: I don't think it'd be a good idea to flash around so much firepower now dat da star...I mean especially since KE doesn't like tuskers like myself carry'n heavy artillery like my AK. My bike don't have tinted windows and since we got some merc group after us, I'd like ta have as much firepower as possible. Also, I'd it'd be best if we'd have at least some persons in each of da vehicles in case dey get hacked and need a manual override.

[pbangarth]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:53am, Touristville

<<@team: That driver idea makes sense.>>

[Warlordtheft]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:55am, Touristville

Zo directs Ferret and Oz to bring the trucks into a row of decrepit warehouses. Along the row are lines of BTL addicts slumped down enjoying their trip. More than a few gangers perk up at the odd site of rigs in this complex, which hasn't seen a truck since 29. As Zo steps out of the rig he was in, he looks around at the gathered gangers--most of whom he recognize, quickly spotting Smidge amongst them.

Fragging good luck on dat, Throgg must be passed out. It's his night to enforce da peace here.

"Hey Smidge, Gotta favor to ask. Ya mind me parkin dese rigs over dere?"

Zo points to the nearby building with the blackend walls from either fire or acid rain, broken windows, and 5 bays for vehicles to enter, of which only one is big enough for the rigs. Inside more people with blank stares amongst the clutter and a joygirl giving a trick to one of the gangers on an old mattress. A big crimson crush symbol is painted on the wall behind them.

[Saint Sithney]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:55am, Touristville

Smidge tips up his red fedora and shrugs at ZO. "It's everybody's sprawl. You want a babysitter though, that'll cost ya." Touristville wasn't like the rest of Redmond at all. Touristville had money. This is were all the semi-legit business flocked. Pawn shops that sell "verified" goods. Strip clubs with "backroom" policies. Bars that offer "designer" intoxicants. And gun stores. Lots of gun stores.

[Saint Sithney]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:55am, Touristville

Oswald pulled up in the lead and directed the trucks into the warehouse.
"I still think we should just wipe out the Hellhounds. I've been meaning to get to that anyway.."

[Warlordtheft]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:55am, Touristville

"Oz, I'd sooner not do dat. While I would on a normal day, haulin "goods" that could be spilled on ta da streets by errent gun-fire wouldn't be good for business. Smidge, yeah we may need some extra baby sitting on dis one--but not for more dan half a day. Crush will get its cut when all is said an done. But I suppose if ya wanted a little somethin upfront.." Zo takes out 5 of the grenades he recovered from the truck and hands them to Smidge "Here something dat came off da back of a truck."

[Saint Sithney]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:55am, Touristville

Oz laughed a dry, coughing laugh.
"Yeah, I suppose the visibility would be too high. It ain't that I couldn't kill 'em all before we rolled the trucks out. It's more that a trail of bodies leading up to my doorstep could be a problem."

[pbangarth]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:55am, Touristville

"OK, this reminds me of the worst of academic meetings. Five people and seven ideas. Discussed for hours. What the hell are we doing? Somebody choose or I will."

[Warlordtheft]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:55am, Touristville


"Let's cut to da bulldrek den. Here's da plan. We iz gonna park da trucks here til 4:00 AM so as to avoid da 405. Den we is gonna take either 1 truck, two trucks or all three trucks at a time. I can get my guys to babysit the da trucks we leave behind. Jovie can also leave a spirit ta watch things while were away. Da big choice is how many trucks we take wit us on each trip. I like Ferrets plan to take two on da first run and 1 on da second run. Also we can get some chow, and some rest Zo nods towards a nearby prostitute that has just finnished. "and if ya want some entertainment--go for it, she's pretty cheap. So we gotz two for dis plan of two rigs, den 1 rig. Oz, Prof and Jovie, ya in on dis plan?"

[pbangarth]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:55am, Touristville

Professor shrugs. "Sure. I'm in on Ferret's idea. I'll pass on the ... entertainment."

[Notsoevildm]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 12:55am, Touristville

Munching on the remains of a deluxe soyburger, Ferret burps loudly and then replies, "Good choice. taking all three trucks at once had a 64% chance of failing. Taking the trucks one at a time only had a 14% chance of something going wrong on the first run but that went up to 73% for the last one. Two and one has a 17% percent chance on the first run and 32% on the second.

He eyes up the grubby whore.

Been a while since I had some, but these poor girls just make me feel depressed.

Then he notices the needle marks on her arm.

And a little guilty!

Despite a long pause, he takes up the conversation as if nothing had happened, "Admittedly I probably missed a few variables, and this prog is mostly meant for calculating the odds on which team is going to win at urban brawl but the numbers seem about right."

I'm going to grab some shuteye. I'll be in my van.

[Warlordtheft]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 1:58am, Touristville

"Urban Brawl, runnin, dey seem alike enough. Just no 4 team stand offs....."

[Notsoevildm]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 1:58am, Touristville

Ferret makes a choking sound. Small bits of soyburger fly from his mouth, followed by a prolonged session of what can only be described as a mix of coughing and laughing.

Once he regains his breath, he wipes at his eyes.

"Close enough, if you count us, the ghouls, the Vipers and the German's red queen sneak attack. Let's just hope four is the limit and the 405s have all gone to bed when we make our runs."

He climbs into the passengers seat of his van and pulls his blanket over him. He sets the van on passive alert and an alarm for 0350 and falls alseep with BDLL's pilot program running through his mind.

[pbangarth]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 1:58am, Touristville

"Well. Somebody's going to have to keep watch." Professor sets up with his back to a wall and a good view of the trucks and the team, and opens his perception to the astral. His pistol is in hand, resting on his lap.

[Warlordtheft]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 1:05 am, Touristville

Zo looks around the warehouse. About 50 addicts of various sorts and about 3 or 4 joygirls were there tonight. Satisfied that there was nothing unusal going on he goes over to talk shop with Smidge.

"Smidge, anythin ya need help wit at da moment?"

[Sephiroth]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 1:58am, Touristville

"Close enough, if you count us, the ghouls, the Vipers and the German's red queen sneak attack. Let's just hope four is the limit and the 405s have all gone to bed when we make our runs."

He climbs into the passengers seat of his van and pulls his blanket over him. He sets the van on passive alert and an alarm for 0350 and falls alseep with BDLL's pilot program running through his mind.

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 1:05 am, Touristville

<<@team: Not quite. The Vipers are going to stay out of the game for a while, so we need not worry about them for now. Their commander is a former military man, if you remember, so he is not going to recklessly send his team after us unprepared. We have time.>>

Jovan sat in the back seat of the Rover, now unhooked from the medical chair. He took a sip from a small cup of soycaf that he had ordered from one of the nearby shops and had had delivered to him by his spirit. It was more of a habitual act than anything else, really, since HMHVV had rendered him immune to the effects of caffeine long ago.

<<@team: I'll let the rest of you figure out the details for moving the cargo back to Oswald's warehouse. I have some calls to make and a plan to set into motion for dealing with Archer and the Mad Hatter. Do not bother me for a while, please.>>

He reached out with his mind and Spoke to the air elemental, summoning it to his immediate vicinity. We have some time to relax and contemplate, now that we are out of the polluted place. Are you feeling better? Shall we begin our planning now?

[Saint Sithney]

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2071, 1:05am, Touristville

<<@team: Sure thing prof. You do the ghost-hunter thing and I'll soak the area in radar. Everyone else rest while you can. We roll out at the start of dusk. I'll keep an eye on the roads and see if I can't make some trouble south of Bellview between the 1st and 2nd truck runs. As to the V12, they may martial their forces before coming at us again, but part of that preparation is going to be information gathering. So whatever your plan is, Jove, I trust your dedication to counter-espionage techniques will hold. Meantime, rest of us gotta be careful not to show too much skin. Long as our capabilities and position stay largely unknown, the so-called general's not going to risk any sort of half-assed attack.>>