IC: Post or Die, Lifelines, and deadlines Options

[Red-ROM]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:43 PM, Redmond, Oswald's roverViper 5 paused for a moment and looked at the beast before him. There was a brief stillness in the van. The light was so dim, the glow of the medkit danced across Jovan's pale face in a sickening green and red. "The General's name is general," he said after a long breath,"That's all anybody knows. Big Daddy Long Legs is an old troll That moves a lot of illegal cargo. Don't know where he keeps it. That's why we were following you guys. If you want to get all self righteous about some gangers in a bar trying to kill us and failing miserably, go ahead. I doubt heavily that my fate here will be civil in any way. "

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:43 PM, Redmond, nearby Ferret's van

The spirit was quietly relaying the teams responses to the unknown magic user. Then it folded its arms and said,"We have heard enough, you have made your choice. We will assume our brother will die with honor, and we will remember this day"
With that, the spirit faded back to the astral plane.

[pbangarth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:43 PM, Redmond, nearby Ferret's van

Professor sighs and looks around at his teammates, new and old. "That went well, don't you think?"

[J. Packer]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:43 PM, Redmond, nearby Ferret's van

"Where's our magical support? I'd like to see some watchers in the area just in case they decide to extract their revenge immediately. Where's our bargaining chip being held? Knowing that his pals have sold him down the river might just open up his mouth where other inducements were lacking."

Amber looks around, her senses tuned as finely as she can, looking for anything incoming. She's all business now, no more joking around.

"Can somebody give me a run-down on where we stand, what goals we have outstanding, what's been done thus far? And do we have any heavier firepower? I'd like to see a firmer perimeter before we proceed."

[Acme]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:44 PM, Redmond, nearby Ferret's van

Acme grunted, slipping to a seat at the open door of the van. He was still resting, so he didn't make much many more movements except for fiddling with the slap patch in his hand, but he looked at Amber, an annoyed look on his face. Finally showing himself to the dwarf, the AmerInd elf had dark circles under his eyes and looked like he'd been beaten to hell, including a dried blood trickle from his nose down to his shirt. He let out a long breath and nodded, trying to hold the attitude in because she was just trying to be proactive. He was tired enough that his normally amber-colored eyes from Coyote's influence were finally returning to the dark brown ones of his birth.

"I'm your major magical backup," he croaked out, letting his condition sink in before she barked more at him. "What our goals are is to get a shipment back of milspec equipment from an ass named Big Daddy LongLegs. We've got him tracked to his hideout but so far things have gone from bad to worse. We've got a mercenary outfit after us and have already lost two people on this run. One of them just recently when a spirit attacked him, and beat the shit out of me before we could get it dealt with. I'm attempting to recover the best I can in the ensuing legwork before I have to risk using a slap patch, which will only allow for a temporary boost. Because frankly, lady, if I tried anything bigger than brushing my hair I'm going to pass out."

[Saint Sithney]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:44 PM, Redmond, nearby Ferret's van

Yep, just as I thought. No attempts to reason or negotiate. Only logical reason for that is if conflict was inevitable... or these guys are idiots... or both. My money's on both.

"I smell another tantrum coming. Everyone get on your best ghost-busting boots." Oswald took his Laser pistol out, ready to shoot a spirit down. "Gimmie a second while I see what Joe's learned."

<<@Jovan: So, what have you got so far? Are the goods they're after the same as the ones we are? That's the most important thing we could possibly know. I got a bad feeling that BDLL tried to sell them our guns. Also, ask the guy which of the contacts from his Comm is for their mage in town. We weren't finished talking, but apparently he wants to sulk. I aim to reach out and touch the guy... Oh, wait, you wouldn't get that reference..>>

"Ferret, have you cracked that comm already? We need to call this jag-off and put our new socialite on him. Voice to voice, she should be able to tell when he's lying, unlike with this ghost message bull-crap. Also, tracing him would be a good idea. How's that going?"

[Notsoevildm]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:45 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

Jeez, she's a bossy little thing.

Ferret rolls down the driver's window and leans out.

"We should probably get moving before they send another one of them snake spirits after us or decide to pull an Oswald and drop a few tons of ordnance on our location. The van should be clear of bugs now, so unless they are tracking us on the astral they won't be able to follow us."

He looks to Amber. "You planning on following us in that little car of your, or would you prefer something to join us in something a little more bullet resistant?" He raps his knuckles on the van's door for emphasis.

<<@Throgg: Word of warning buddy. We seem to have pissed off some freelance merc team that goes by the name of Viper 12. Even though they are only Viper 8 or 9 now, they still got some serious ordnance and magic support. Here's what I have on them: {Viper12 file}.>>

His face screws up in thought at Oswald's question. Comm? What comm? Oh yeah, Viper5's. Guess I should check it out.

"I'm working on it. This stuff's not as easy as they make out in the trids."

With that he rolls up the window and slumps down in his chair, the grimy reality of the Barrens giving way to the shiny chrome of the matrix. His silver whiskers twitch as he circles Viper5's commlink node, carefully probing it for any nasty surpises.

[J. Packer]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:45 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

Seeing the condition that Acme is in, Amber softens her stance a bit. "You look like drek. Any bound spooks owe you a favor?"

"Ferret, if you can get a contact out of that comm, I'm happy to put in a call, do a little more negotiating. Ideally, it would really be face to face, and not just over a comm. And I agree, splitting the team without strategic reasons is foolish. I'll send the Honda home."

She calls up the car's comm and instructs the pilot to head home, entirely legal the whole way.

[Notsoevildm]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:45 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

<<@Amber: Like I said, I'm working on it. Just don't boss me around, lady. I don't work too well under pressure and as you might have noticed we're having a fragging bad day. We got one in the morgue and another not far from it. And that's only the ones I know about. Hell, I'm a replacement for someone who didn't make it much beyond the initial meet. So welcome to amateur night in the Barrens and there's a free spot up front next to Rusty and the Prof if you'd like to take it.>>

Ferret turns his attention back to the commlink node, chewing on it with renewed vigor, taking out his anger and frustation on the node's firewall.

[J. Packer]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:45 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

<<@Ferret: Easy, tiger. You're the one that called it amateur night, not me. I just got sent in to see where I could help shore things up, maybe bring a little organization to the party. And I'll squeeze in next to the Prof when we decide it's time to roll.>>


"So..." Amber says with a pregnant pause. "What's next? Where's our leverage located, anyway?"

[Acme]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:45 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

Acme chuckles a bit to the question. "I'm not much for binding spirits," he replied. "I know it sounds stupid, but I usually only use them on an ad hoc basis so I don't offend 'em. I'm not a hermetic that thinks that they're only for exploitation." He has a look that maybe sometimes that attitude is going to cost him, and this is one of those cases where he needs to talk to Coyote and rethink that.

[Red-ROM]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:45 PM, Redmond, Viper 5 node

The chromed Ferret icon weasels through a high black wall of code. A large spotlight sweeps overhead, but he keeps chewing his way in. The light swings by again and stops over his shimmering metallic body. The light turns red and the wall gets taller and thicker. Ferret still manages to punch through. Once in the node, he is surrounded by impossibly tall buildings that are black as night. hovering in a shadowy sky is a large digital clock ticking down. it looks to have 15 minutes, 22 seconds and some change. As he begins to sweep with his analyze program, a huge black dog comes barreling around the corner. The dog immediately comes up as IC.

[J. Packer]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:45 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

Amber tilts her head to one side as Acme speaks. "Huh," she says when he finishes. "It's okay to exploit them short term, but not long term. Interesting bit of mental gymnastics you've got going there. Hope your moral hairsplitting doesn't get us all geeked..."

[Acme]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

Acme looked like he had just about given Amber the benefit of the doubt for her earlier snappy comments... until she opened her mouth again. "And I hope being a raging bitch doesn't get us killed either," he growled out. "There's a time and a place for philosophical debates about magic and frankly, this ain't the time. Unless you happen to be able to be a summoner yourself, then we can talk about spirits' rights and how it affects the one dealing with them, si?"

[Notsoevildm]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van/Viper 5 node

Ferret's meat body twitches and hisses in his chair as his chromed icon launches itself at the dog icon. His claws and teeth extend as his attack program comes online and he bites and scratches at the dog icon with seemingly little effect.

Oh frag, Black IC! Get the hell out you idiot., he screeches at himself.

He scampers away from the dog, dodging left and right between the dark buildings, his chromed eyes glowing white as he tries to find a way out. His meat body twitches as he desperately tries to log out of the system, while the black dog icons claws and teeth tear at his chromed one.

[J. Packer]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

Isn't that interesting. I had hoped that it was mostly the corporate spell slingers you had to use kid gloves with.

Moving towards the resting shaman, to allow her bioware to have the best effect, Amber pours on the charm.

"I'm sorry, you're right. We can talk about this after we're safe and the mission has been brought to a successful conclusion. You just take it easy and get yourself back into fighting trim, while we figure out how best to proceed from here."

You get an odd mix of scents along with her words. Is that submissive pup, or bitch, presenting?

[Saint Sithney]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van


"Hahahaha! Classic! A woman tries to be a strong leader and so that makes her a bitch! Can't you just respect her command as a woman and disregard her command as a halfer? Haaa heh heh... Zing! I got you good, you fuckers. Phew.. It's good to decompress sometimes. So anyway, should we get into a more confined space to limit the places a spirit might materialize? I know I saw a van around here somewhere..." Oswald stood and stepped to the side of the door.

[Sephiroth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:45 PM, Redmond, Oswald's rover

Jovan narrowed his eyes at this insolent man and his utterly unhelpful knowledge of BDLL before turning briefly to his comm. <<@Oswald: Ask me again once you actually have his contact list on hand. I understand that procuring such things forcibly can be tedious sometimes. They have several dozen recruits at their disposal in addition to the formerly twelve core Vipers. Viper12 is an aged, smart, highly secretive black ops specialist who may soon get involved in this conflict himself. They were tracking us in the hopes that we would lead them to Long Legs, though tactfulness is clearly not their forte. I imagine you gathered as much from that spirit messenger as well. In addition, there are within the core Vipers a definite two Awakened, both of whom are either full magicians or mystic adepts. What else happened during the exchange with them?>>

He looked down again and met Viper 5's gaze. He considered the captive man before him for a moment. "You have quite a blunt way of twisting facts and responsibility in your favor, Viper 5." The nosferatu spoke quietly. There was still no emotion in his voice. He smiled, but there was no joy or emotion in that smile. Perhaps it was more of a smirk, but perhaps it was not. "Most who find themselves where you are now put a bit more consideration and 'self-righteousness' into their justifications, if they do so at all. I've not met someone so blunt in a while." He paused. "Not that you would ever truly understand such musings."

"Let us return to the topic at hand. Tell me what those goods are that the Vipers are trying to obtain from Long Legs. After that, tell me what reasons Long Legs might have, to the best of your knowledge, to motivate him to default on his agreement with you. However civil or uncivil your fate may be, being obstinate or uncooperative at this point will only bring that fate upon you more quickly, and draw it out over a longer period of time. Do not test me, Viper 5. Answer my questions, and answer them fully and truthfully."

[Acme]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van


"Oz, you don't get a fuckin say," he replied with a chuckle. "I only used a gender specific insult. I've already called you an asshole and a mental case to your face, so don't pull this sexist crap on me." But he does seem to change his position with Amber. Something in the air, and he was sure it was affecting him a bit more with the way his head was feeling, made him just nod to her and stop growling, and started taking some slow cleansing breaths before a spike in stress caused his recovery to restart.

[pbangarth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

Professor watches the exchange between Amber and Acme, and Ferret's response. Man, good thing she hasn't turned that on me.

<<@Jovan[[CC: team]:Well, our serpentine competitors are pissed that we struck them before they struck us. Any suggestion that they would not have taken similar measures the moment we had the goods is nonsense. I suspect their leader is somewhat chagrined that he was outmaneuvered and they have lost some valuable materiel, as well as some troops. It would appear they have now declared us as enemies, or more enemy-like than we were before. We are going to have to keep a stronger astral screen up, as magical means seem to be their forte at the moment, now that we have knocked out some of their air and ground power.

Negotiation doesn't seem to be their strong suit either, based on what just transpired. If it ever comes up, getting Amber in physical proximity of their negotiator may be a good thing. Jovan, whatever you can get out of our captive will be all we get from them for the moment, I think. Just as a suggestion, but if a memory-wiped captive can be returned to them alive, we may be able to buy some small reciprocation from them.

I do think we need to have a clearer understanding and communication with our employers. Whatever transpired between them and the Vipers should have been instantly transmitted to all of us. I am concerned about the layers of ignorance through which we are cutting.>>

[Sephiroth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Oswald's Rover

<<@Professor: Hence why I wished to speak with you about what we know about them so far, or partly why at least. I have held the woman who hired me, and anyone beyond her in whatever chain of command they have, in the utmost suspicion from the beginning. Every interaction we've had with her since then has only increased my distrust. It is extremely clear by now that there is a great deal of things that she or they are not telling us.

As for astral defenses, I have already anticipated you in that regard. As a result of a preparatory feeding undertaken last night, I was able to conjure an elemental significantly stronger than those usually within my ability to summon. Without the strength of that particular spirit, it is less likely that I would have been able to bring down their chopper before it had the chance to attack the rest of you and the civilians, and to capture the sole survivor from that chopper.

Once I am done with this Viper, I will send another strong elemental to support the rest of you. But you need to decide whether to have him memory-wiped and returned or killed. Come morning, I will no longer be able to offer you significant astral support if I do not kill him, and if only a partial draining is done, whichever of the two Awakened Vipers that is able to assense him will figure out what happened when they get him back. We cannot do both. That's just the way it is. Not even I can change that. And, for what it's worth, the feeding is the more reliable defense of the two in my opinion. With a group as tactless and brutal as the 12 Vipers, there's not much likelihood that returning their soldier would do much to keep them from trying to kill us.>>

[Saint Sithney]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Oswald's Rover

<<Oswald@Mission Control: Mission control, come in. This is Commander Shankles. Please respond. I have a situation for the boys in the lab. Hoping you could pull a trace and burn on a set of jerkass mercs who got drummed out of the service. Awaiting your response.>>

One eye still on the radar, Oswald looked around for their civilian compliment.
"Hey kid, er.. Rusty. You been mighty quiet. Busy thinking about how you're quite possibly being targeted by ghostly assassins at the moment? I know that if I was them, I'd be looking to cook the other team's advantage to stall out their progress. And if I were you, I'd be wondering who the old coot with the laser pistol and wicked Scoliosis was. For the moment though, I'm me, and I'm saying, fess up. Where we headed and what's waiting for us? Also, you any good with remote guns? I got a cannon in the sky doing me only a moderate amount of good while I have ta keep watch for spooks down here."

[J. Packer]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

Looking skyward, as if seeking heavenly grace to help keep her patience, Amber heaves a heavy sigh.

"Rusty? Who's Rusty? Why wasn't I made aware of this resource when I arrived?"

She stops, gets a grip, and walks over to Oswald to see who this Rusty is for herself.

[Red-ROM]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van/Viper 5 node

As soon as the dog bared it's teeth, and showed the black hammer code. The chrome rodent bolted for the wall and was gone. Ferret popped back to life in the van feeling just the slightest itch at the back of his head.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

Rusty's response is interrupted slightly by the dramatic young dwarf that's attempting to throw her weight around. He gives her a short wave from his seat in the van, then addresses Oswald's ramblings,"I imagine those other fella's are thinking that your stalled progress is their stalled progress, and now that you mention it, I was wonderin about the old coot with the laser pistol. one minute it sounds like he's gonna shoot me, the next minute it sounds like he wants me to be his tail gunner" Rusty scratches his head briskly sending flakes everywhere,"I was a maintenance man in my day captain, If it's any more than a hand gun, I'm probably not your man. Hell most of the time I'm using this here cattle prod I made"
He lifts up the steel rod wrapped in wires. The end of it forked like a snake tongue,"Long Leg's place is an old shipping facility north of the Glow. I'll try to lead you in. there's a spot on the perimeter with hard wired communications. That's as close as I've been. I've stopped by a few times and nobody's answered. I've been told there are booby traps all over the place out there, and there are signs up everywhere with warnings of contamination of some kind. "

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Oswald's rover

The man in Jovan's magical clutches tried again to assert his strength over his invisible bonds,but to no avail. "Well, to be even more blunt, I had no intention in saying half of it, but I couldn't seem to stop myself. I mean, I've been dangled off of a twelve story building by my ankle and talked less. I think you just have an honest face." He laughed a little hysterically at his own joke. He had steeled himself for death, and now that it hadn't come yet, he was starting to crack,"We just wanted to get some high grade communications. Our gear isn't as state of the art as it once was. We put out some feelers, and Long Legs hit us back, said he scored a little extra on a run and we could have it. We sent the cred, and got a meet up date. The trog was a no show"

[Sephiroth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:46 PM, Redmond, Oswald's rover

Jovan made a forced smile at the mercenary's joke, but frowned at his claim that the Vipers' goods were not the same as those Jovan's companions sought, as well as his use of such a racist term as 'trog.' "Oh? When was this then, that he responded and agreed to give you this communications hardware he'd obtained?"

[Notsoevildm]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 8:47 PM, Redmond, Ferret's van

Ferret gives an involuntary yelp as he jerks upright in his seat. Viper5's commlink flies from his hand like it was on fire, tinks off the van's windscreen and drops onto the floor.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck! Fragger's got fragging black IC on his fragging commlink. What sort of sick fragger puts fragging black fragging IC on his fragging commlink?"

His tirade continues on for almost a minute, his face flushed red, until he finally runs out of breath. Then he slumps back in his seat, his breath coming in ragged heaves as he tries to get his heart rate back to normal.

<<@team: No luck on cracking the commlink. I got in but it's loaded with black IC. I just made it out with my brains intact. There is some sort of timer running with about 15 minutes left. I'll need a lot more than that to crack it safely unless our prisoner of war gives me the access code.>>