2072: Game World, IC thread for 2072: Recruitment always open! Options

[ChromeZephyr]

E: Tribes, Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 16:00:23; Mechanical's Bus Barn
PAN mode: Active | ID Displayed: SCRAPHEAP

Scrapheap blinked as the AR window with Sprogget's message popped up, his concentration on a moderately complex circuit diagram he'd been trying to comprehend for the last 30 seconds broken. Dammit, I think I just about got it, too. A mental sigh, then he saved the spot he was at, closed the e-book window, and fired back a response.

<< No hurry on my end, do what you got to do. >>

September 1, 2072, 16:04:02

Scrapheap unfolded his arms and nodded as Sprogget finished his inspection and came over for introductions. "Skraa, Sprogget. Still breathin', not bleedin'. Suppose dat's a good day, neh?" Scrapheap indicated the truck and trailer with a nod of his head. "What's da score?"

[Aria]

@E:PL/UK Gemeaux (Mordred & Tsubaki)
[May 21st, 2072, 15:52:41, NeoNet Zepplin bound for Exeter, ETA 16:00:00]

Vivienne quietly and efficiently connects you to the commcode that you have been given and after barely a moment you are through. Rather than the (secretly anticipated view) of Lady deBathayre’s graceful form you see a swirling mass of constellations in your augmented reality overlay. These coalesce into the form of a dragon made of stars with the same wicked twinkle in its eye that you detected in the good lady. It would seem she has taken her master’s image to heart!

<<Monsieur Gemeaux? An unexpected pleasure so soon! But you are distressed and have been left somewhat in the lurch by your erstwhile companion? Of course I may be of assistance to you, for a small price naturally, but we can discuss such things later. Would you like me to turn back and pick you up? We can converse much more comfortably away from the prying eyes at the airport, it wouldn’t do for you to stay too long and draw the eye of your former employers…>>

As you, Mordred, Tsubaki and the Collots watch the palatial limo that had driven off with Lady deBathayre returns. The hulking black guards step out and scowling begin to walk back towards the small terminal building. A languorous hand waves from the interior

“I have sent them away so that we may have some privacy. Please, would you and your party care to join me?”

Either she has a taste for danger or is trusting that a group she knows to be runners pose her no threat, and which is worse you wonder…?

[Aria]

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[August 31st, 2072, 06:32:47; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]

LeFey

You have to get out of this stifling place, you tried before and were dragged back, you’ll be damned if they catch you this time! Everything’s ready right? You’ve got your supplies packed and hidden away and you’ve studied the security for the umpteenth time… your train of thought is interrupted as your Paragon looks up in amazement and the AR architecture of your wall display suddenly ripples and changes and is looking out onto a bizarre garden rather than the usual scene. A sprightly young girl, perhaps eight years old or so, springs out from a glittering pool. She appears, disconcertingly, to be naked, clad only in impossibly long flowing hair that sparkles and crackles with energy…

<<Don’t leave yet child (child?!?), I’m sending someone to help you get out cleanly. It wouldn’t do for someone to trace you to where you are going would it? Can you wait one more day? The pieces are falling in to place but they aren’t quite there yet…>>

September 1, 2072 07:01:21;
Physical Location: SE Corner of 39th Ave NW and 7th St SW;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Alpha Apex

Prospero’s icon moves towards you across the water, his long flowing robes masking his face but allowing the burning pits of his eyes shine from beneath the hood. His staff strikes ripples in the code as he strides up the beach and you catch a brief glimpse of Aerial as the sprite agent darts from a shadow and whisks off again with barely a pause. You are just as glad that Caliban is not in evidence…the coding on that piece of software has rendered it downright ugly!

“Up early or late, Alpha?” the voice is mellifluous, once you could get lost in, another piece of expert code. For one who can’t sense the Resonance his skills are impeccable. It probably comes of living almost entirely in the matrix, something you perhaps envy him a little.

“I have a little job for you if you are willing? I’m told there’s a techno out there who needs some help to join us. She’s locked up tight in a corp enclave and we need to ensure she gets away without leaving an obvious trail. Do you think you and Glyph can manage it? I know she stands out a bit but she has enough experience of covering herself up when needed, and she might prove a valuable distraction if used at the right moment. I’ll send Jazz with you if you think you’ll need some firepower but I would hope that this could be kept under the radar. You’re all young enough that provided you don’t go dressed like gangers you should be overlooked. Here’s the commcode of the techno, LeFey, if you are interested. If not I can ask someone else…”

September 1, 2072 09:05:32;
Physical Location: xxxx
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Glyph

As you drop into the node an agent immediately accosts you with a message, why they didn’t just send it to your comm you don’t know but this place never was one for following the easy route or doing things in the normal way.

<<@Glyph: Please contact – A L P H A – he has a task that needs to be completed today and you are 85% compatible with the task parameters.>>

[Aria]

@E:Tribe / Mechanicals
September 1, 2072 16:12:14; Mechanicals Bus Barn

Sprogget, Scrapheap & Spring

As you mill around the truck whilst Sprogget completes his final checks there is a yell and Spring races into the barn swiftly followed by an irate techie

“Get out from under my feet! Go on, hitch a ride with this lot wherever they are going and stay out of trouble! Oi, Scrapheap, keep an eye on him will you? I have had enough of him pestering me!” which is grossly unfair but Sleeper is always grouchy and you’d caught him at a bad moment…

[Aria]

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:01:32; Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

The mana in your fists visible crackles around your razors as you slash at the spirit. It screams with a distressingly human sound. Despite this you suspect that the spell had little real effect and girding your will and with the approving hiss of Snake in your mind you wade in to do battle.

It could best be described as titanic as ichor sprays from its wounds, splashing across your engraved arms. It struggles to strike back but although it buffets you repeatedly the blows fail to breach your armour, despite the chitinous hooks that scrabble towards your face and torso. Under your enslaught it weakens rapidly and you thank Snake that it was obviously not a spirit of great power.

As it finally dissipates back to whatever meta hell spawned it you realise firstly that in your struggle you are frighteningly exposed and second that you have lost track of Katie and Jon…

[Dakka Fiend]

[September 1st, 2072, 16:12:15; Mechanicals Bus Barn]
Renraku Sensei: Active, SIN: nope

Hey, are you insane?! I was just working on my... stopping in mid-sentence, Spring decides that's probably not gonna lead anywhere and to change tactics. Anyway, thanks for making sure, I' d get here in time. So, where we going?

He flashes the men in whose care he just had been unceremoniously dumped a nervous smile.

[Nightfalke]

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom, Alpha Apex
September 1, 2072 07:01:53;
Physical Location: SE Corner of 39th Ave NW and 7th St SW;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall
BioNode: Hidden | Meta Link: Active, SIN: Alan Shepard

"Early. Late. Day. Night. It doesn't matter in the Deep Resonance. However, it is nice to feel the sun on your face, sometimes. Soooo...Let's say "early" this time."
With a chuckle and a smile (or, at least as much of a smile as his avatar would allow), Alpha tries to play down his inner torment...

Man, I forgot how much he bugs me. Is he good because he is detached from reality, or is he detached from reality because he is so good? You gotta have balance. The Deep Resonance and meatspace are two sides of the same coin, and forsaking one is to forsake both. Is that why Zero One has sent me here to this place? Ugh, I hope not. Talking to him makes my skin crawl.
And those agents of his...give me the willies. Not sure which is worse; the ugly one you at least expect to give you trouble, but the pretty one, well, she is ugly in her own way.

"As for this...LeFey. Is this going to be a meatspace kind of breakout attempt, or purely online? Because I've kinda got a thing..."

Alpha holds up a finger. "Actually, lemme check something really fast..." Swiping across his field of vision, Alpha brings up another window and sends a quick message to Phobos. <<So, does rescuing this lost technomancer seem to match up with Zero One's predictions? Can I get out of this doorway now? I think it's starting to drizzle...>>

There is a 83.47% likelyhood that this is the advantageous event in question. However, longer residence time at this physical location should increase the certainty.

<<Right. Delay if I can, but don't lose the opportunity.>> Alpha's attention goes back to Prospero. "Nevermind. My thing just cleared up. Got a few questions for you, first. What's the timeline? I will need time to finesse the systems she's locked up in. What's the details? You know: which corp, who's watching her?"

Sitting down on the beach chair that is conveniently next to him, Alpha kicks his feet up and relaxes. "Also, there is a matter of compensation to be discussed. She's important to you, which means she's important to me... But I don't know her from Ariel, and some extra nuyen would make me care a lot more for her safety."

[JxJxA]

@E:PL/UK
[May 21st, 2072, 15:52:41, NeoNet Zepplin bound for Exeter, ETA 16:00:00]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Gemeaux looks back towards the group with an avant garde grin, although his eyes say something else. He gives them the kind of resigned look of someone who has just sold his soul to the unknown.

"Normally, I would say, 'Après vous, Mesdames et Messieurs.' Given the circumstances, I believe you will afford me the honor of going first?" He does not wait for an answer.

Gemeaux strides forth confidently towards the Lady deBathayre. He gently takes her hand and kisses it.

"You have my thanks, my Lady, and indeed the pleasure is mine. I believe I speak for all of us when I say we are grateful for your generosity, as well as the opportunity for privacy." He looks back at the rest of the group.

"Shall we?"

[Machine Ghost]

E: Tribes, Sprogget
September 1, 2072, 16:12:18; Mechanical's Bus Barn
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Active; SIN: Hugo Wright

Sprogget Looks over to see what the commotion is about, Looks at Sleeper and Spring, then shrugs to Scrapheap. He then looks back to the annoyed techie, @sleeper: "{soothingly}, Sa'right Sleeper. We got it.".
@team: "As I was just saying, I got a line on a B.D. pickup, rusting in the garage of a maybe suit over in Tacoma. Not free salvage, but I think I can get it for a good price, and fix it up. You were invited {hard look at Spring} to help load it {gesturing to the trailer}, and keep any flys off while hauling it back to my shop. The owner is part of the Makers Guild I deal with some, so don't be treat'n her like a puta. The map says we could get there in 20 minutes, but I figure closer to an hour, staying below notice. The actual P.Z. is here {sending axc4mr address to both commlinks} Not know'n all the gang claims on the way, so we be cautious on the road. The cycle {waving at the Revolution} has maxed sensors, and dog brain good enough to stick to convoy". @Scrapheap: "You want point, drag, or park the bike and ride inside? Bike is more Maneuverable, but harder to use that {Gesturing to the holstered shotgun} from the chopper, if need. You got comm while riding"?

Sprogget checks what is available for sensor channels from the other 2 through the commlinks. He does not find enough to be useful. Disappointed, he releases the sustained complex form.

@team: "Times leaking away. We need to get moving quick like, if not want to risk being late. Oh, where we traveling, should miss high-sec zones. I'll be setting my comm to passive, soon as we start moving. Spring, looks like you get shotgun seat, unless you {including both Spring and Scrapheap} have better idea"?

Sprogget slaves the Revolution to his bio node, checks the results of the diagnostics run on the truck, and prepares get in and get going.

[Dakka Fiend]

[September 1st, 2072, 16:12:15; Mechanicals Bus Barn]
Renraku Sensei: Active, SIN: nope

Spring lowers his eyes as Sprogget gives him the eye, opens his mouth as if to say something but closes it without doing so. Gonna show 'em I'm not some whiny kid.

As Sprogget mentions changing comm modes, Spring sets his to passive. He nods at Sprogget I'm OK with riding shotgun. How about a few more eyes? Not waiting for an answer, he mutters something under his breath and first one than two, finally three entities appear flaoting before him. They look like palm-sized inch-thick disks, seemingly made of bronze. Each has two short legs and arms and one single large eye in the middle. Parts of their "faces" are cut out and show running gears.

They're not the smartest clanks around but they can see the æther.

[Dakka Fiend]

double post is double (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[faultline]

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 07:15:12;
Physical Location: White Residence
PAN - Active; SIN - Calliope White

Glyph opened the door to the apartment and walked in shutting the door behind her, she turned around and locked the door more out of habit than necessity. Taking off her bike helmet she hung it up on the hook by the door, and noticed the ARO she had left there for herself earlier.

The ARO, sculpted by her to look like a real arrow, with fletching that matched her fur color, stuck into the wall. She plucked it out and it disappeared, reforming into the message that it represented into the lower left hand corner of her vision. She looked at the message scrolling there for a couple second before it moved into her main view.

<<@Self: Don't forget to put up a post on the nexus for a the new gear you were looking for girl>>

She brought her hand up and across her vision in a sweeping motion grabbing the message and tossing it into the garbage icon in the lower right hand corner of her vision.

As she was deleting the message she moved through the living room and into the kitchen, grabbing a bowl, and spoon from the drying rack she placed them on the counter. Opening the fridge she grabbed the carton of milk finding just enough for a bowl or two of dinner, as she turned toward the cupboards above the counters she updated the ARO shopping list on the fridge. She fished in the cupboards until she found what she wanted way in the back her hidden stash of Dragon Crunch with its picture of a great dragon laying on a pile of the golden coin shaped cereal holding a bowl and spooning up a mouthfull of the sugary stuff.

I'd love see someone catch a real dragon eating a bowl of this stuff

She poured herself a bowl of cereal, added the milk and started eating, checking her feeds for anything new while she ate. After she was done she rinsed her dishes, put everything away and headed to her room.

Closing the door behind her, she didn't even bother turning on the light, the glow that came off her was enough for her to see by. She sat down on her bed and started taking off her clothes tossing everything in the hamper in the corner save her boots, and gloves. She peeled off the subvocal mike, and earbuds and placed those on the nightstand next to her gloves. She wrapped a towel around herself and left her room heading down the hall to the bathroom.

After starting the shower she draped her towel over the sink and looked in the mirror at herself, she was used to the way she looked now, though most times she still stared at herself looking at the changes and remembering the way she used to look. There was nothing left of the fair skinned, blue eyed, golden blonde that was a younger version of her mother. She pulled herself from the mirror before her thoughts turned darker and entered the shower.


September 1, 2072 09:05:31
Physical Location: White Residence
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall


Glyph entered the node and as always marveled at the sculpting of the node. It wasn't just the visuals that awed her, on a good day with enough time she could render something as good, it was everything else; the sounds, the randomness, all the little details, sometimes she swore she could even smell the ocean, and feel the heat of the sun that she didn't see much of anymore.

She turns and takes a step toward the strand of palm trees in the distance, and finds herself almost face to face with an agent. Surprised she steps back as the agent delivers a message.

<<@Glyph: Please contact – A L P H A – he has a task that needs to be completed today and you are 85% compatible with the task parameters.>>

With its message delivered the agent departs.

WTF!, really....? Couldn't a text message have been easier? Who sent that agent? Good chance it was Prospero. 85% compatible my ass.

<<@Prospero: Was that your agent that just dropped of this message? {Forwarded text of agents message} >>

<<@Prospero: What exactly do you mean by today? Do you mean today as in daylight hours, or today as in date because you do realize i'm going to be useless until night time, I know most of the time you see me is in the node where its always sunshine so you may not remember that I'm nocturnal, not to mention allergic to the sun.>>

[ChromeZephyr]

@E:Tribes, Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 16:12:38; Mechanical's Bus Barn
PAN mode: Active | ID Displayed: SCRAPHEAP

Scrapheap glares at the back of Sleeper as the techie stalked away. When did I become a fuckin' daycare? Man, today's shit list just keeps getting longer and longer. He glances balefully at Spring as the kid walks over to them, then back to Sprogget. After the technomancer finishes laying out the evening's plans he opens his mouth to speak, then stops when Spring blinks the watchers into being. Huh, a wizkid. Hope someone's keeping an eye on him, keep him from being disappeared. He taps the earpiece in his right ear.

"Yeah, I can talkn' ride at da same time. Kinda hard to hear over da wind and motor, but it's doable. I'll take point, trailin' on a bike's dumb. First three in the pipe are shot, so hittin' on da move ain't hard. If I'm shooting more dan dat than we're already up shit creek and should be findin' a place to hole up and call in the cavalry."

Scrapheap switches his PAN to Passive mode as the two others get into the truck, puts his helmet back on his head, and starts the Triumph. He pulls ahead of the truck as they leave the vehicle bay and swings the bike onto the street heading for the pick-up spot.

[Machine Ghost]

E: Tribes, Sprogget
September 1, 2072, 16:12:47; Leaving Mechanical's Bus Barn
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Active; SIN: Hugo Wright

Sprogget notes but ignores for now the glare that Scrapheap gives Sleeper as he is leaving, and that Spring's comm is not showing any SIN information.
When Spring produces the watchers, Sproggets eyes widen a bit. @self:Mage! Wonder what the abilities and limits are?
Getting into the truck, Sprogget tasks the Revolution to follow behind, and report traffic approaching from the rear. He opens an out of the way AR window to display the camera view.
@RoadRunner:"Ok bud, lend me your skills till I tell you different".

RoadRunner: Connects a couple of large levers into slots in the wall of Sprogget's virtual node.

Sprogget suddenly knows much better how to handle the truck, and how to keep the convoy from being noticed. He modifies the instructions to the Revolution, to better keep the convoy discrete while maintaining lookout. He changes the PAN to passive mode, and slaves the truck node to his bionode as well.

BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Passive; SIN: Hugo Wright

Sprogget verifies 3 way comm connectivity between himself, Spring, and Scrapheap.
@sp^3: <<{humorously} I dub this the sp-cubed team. Ready to slice and dice any tek that comes our way.>>

@sp^3: <<here {AR icon tagged 'monocycle sensor data'}, our rear view mirror>>

Sprogget follows Scrapheap out of the barn, maintaining the spacing suggested by the new knowledge.

@ScrapHeap: <<{tagged private}Don't mind Sleeper. He has just never found the right side of the bed to wake up on.>>

@Spring: "I saw that your comm is not showing any SIN info. Any heat that notice likely to feel he can hassle you just for breathing. Better you set that to hidden, or even better, slave it to my node, so any hits on it get me instead. You should get a decent fake, if you plan on being in the public.".

[RdMarquis]

@E:PL/UK
[May 21st, 2072, 15:52:41, NeoNet Zepplin bound for Exeter, ETA 16:00:00]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Active

Mordred tries to change his perplexed look into a neutral one as he lowers his goggles. "I see you that were busy during the flight, too." Motioning for Mr. Collot to follow, he enters the car. Inwardly, he frowns. The adept had hoped not to have to deal with NeoNET until after this was over. While there was no accounting for individual opinions, the company as a whole was no friend to the Emerged. "Yes, thank you." With the Lady's overlay in mind, what they were doing took on a new and unsettling meaning.

[Fairy]

@E:PL UK
[May 21st, 2072, 15:52:41, NeoNet Zepplin bound for Exeter, ETA 16:00:00]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Tsubaki doesn't forget to express to the Lady, "Thank you so much." Tsubaki is relieved, to say at least. She will be the last one to climb inside the NeoNet limousine. Ooh, leather seats.

[RdMarquis]

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[August 31st, 2072, 06:32:47; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

"Oh, my." Morgan looked at her paragon, but even the idoru seemed surprised. Which was worrying.

"Hello." Gingerly, she stepped toward the girl. A blue beret she had been considering hung from her fingers. "I've been waiting for years. I can stand another day." It wasn't hard for Morgan to sound interested, with a solution to her problems simply standing in front of her. "You still haven't told me who you are." All the more reason for her to be suspicious. Even if she did really need help. This time, Riley wasn't around to take the blame for her excursion. And this time, Morgan would be running around with a fake SIN. She had to make it count.

Pulling her glasses out of her shirt, Morgan slipped them on. The virtual garden before her flickers, giving her a glimpse of the underlying code.

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
September 1, 2072, 16:18:43; Leaving Mechanicals Complex
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Passive; SIN: Hugo Wright

@Spring: "I'm going to use comm, to include Scrapheap in this.".
@sp^3: <<Do you either know things about the routes to Milton that might help us get there and back without getting harassed? I know some about Seattle, especially Puyallup, and more about tribes around Seattle, but that is not everything. Maybe if we compare notes, we can keep this ride silk.>>
@self:That nap cut into my prep time. I should have done some searches before leaving. Actually, should have sent a sprite to do the work while I rested. To excited about the truck. Driving does not take all of my attention. I can do some checks on the fly, but the feel of the shop just makes that so much easier.

That reminds be though, I need to take some time to get build some longer lasting sprites. But which ones?
@Daedalus:"Hey Dae, which tools and assistants you think I should put on retainer first"?

Daedalus:"shrug each have their unque abililties".

@Daedalus:"plaintively Lot of help you are"!

Daedalus:"I do not make decisions for you ".

@Scrapheap: <<{tagged as private}Is the "Scrapheap" id attached to a SIN? If not, you really should get a fake ID, to keep Bacon Bits and corp security from flagging you for extra attention, just for breathing. Null sweat in the barrens, not much in E zones, but I think we hit some D on this trip. They can get anal about having an ID.>>

@sp^3: <<We got a bit of road time here. Let's find out a bit bout each other. I work with 'tronix and automotive mostly. I've got a shop for that, though I do not get to work with the drones as much as I would like. I do a lot of tek maintenance work for the tribe. I do good enough there, to not get much of the standard security patrol stuff. Still get a bit, since 'Uncle' Spindle wants everyone able to at least know about that. Most of the security related work I do is virtual. I can wear one of the buildings like a skin, to keep track of most things inside and outside.

Ah, Scrapheap, when that chopper needs service, unless you already have a repairjockey, bring it around to the shop. I can do repairs and upgrades too, though you will need have the scratch for parts. Unless the tribe is footing the bill anyway.

I also use some of the salvage to make things from raw materials, or to add cosmetic decorations to other equipment. The monocycle is an example of that. I have a bunch of the steampunk on display, both physical and AR at the shop, if you want to have a look. Sold some of those pieces, which is why I've got the cred to think about the truck, when it is not straight salvage.>>

Sprogget opens an extra AR window, and starts a search for information about places to avoid on the current trip.

[Dakka Fiend]

Emerging: Tribe, Spring
[September 1st, 2072, 16:18:51; Mechanicals Bus Barn]
Renraku Sensei: Passive, SIN: nope

At Sprogget's suggestion that he'd better slave his commlink to the man's, Spring takes a moment to mentally assess it's contents. Probably couldn't keep him out anyway, just like Tweak. Last year his friend had just breezed through the paper-thin defense on his 'link. And ridiculed him with the vids he had stored. At the memory, Spring lightly blushes. Of course Tweak had helped him upgrade his old comm - to cardboard level, not that it'd be able to support much more. With a slightly nervous shrug, he switches his commlink's mode to hidden and checks his firewall is running.

Fake SIN, better protection for my comm, how am I gonna pay for that?

@Sprogget: <<Switched to hidden.>>

Spring gets into the truck and sits on the passanger seat, his watchers trailing him.

Better tell em why I assembled them.

Please stay close in the æther and inform me of anyone or anything in it that shows interest in me or my companions.

Mentally contacting his clanks felt strange and as always he wondered what they thought about him or other humans - if anything at all.

As the watchers vanish from sight, Spring starts to compose a message.

@sp³: <<They're still around; just told them to have an eye on the æther.>>

Talk about ourselves? Like I wanted to go with them in the first place. Ah well, maybe somethign interesting's gonna happen.

[Notsoevildm]

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:01:32; Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

Copperhead wipes the worst of the ichor from her armor, the feral grin on her face hidden by both her respirator and slowly fading shamanic mask.

You know, the only thing worse than fighting a bug spirit, is getting a running commentary on what you are doing wrong while fighting a bug spirit.

Then I ssuposse you do not need me to remind you that you are sstanding in the open where anything and everything can ssee you hisses Snake in a condescending, almost humorous tone.

"Frag" mutters Copperhead as she dives for the nearest cover. When no immediate gunfire comes her way, she carefully scans the area for any sign of Jon and Katie.

Frag! Where did they get to now?

Clutching her shotgun close to her chest, she hustles in the direction she last saw them while trying to keep her head from getting shot off and at the same time catch a glimpse of her missing charges.

[Aria]

@E:CoP/Elton Wellborn & Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:00; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

The crystalline walls of the NeoNet tower provide you with a stunning view of the hallowed spires of Oxford in the distance. The sun is beginning to dip towards the west striking sharp shadows across the city and putting things into stark relief.

The live musicians on the balcony above you are passably good, about what you’d expect from a corporate do, and so far you have both managed to avoid the worst of the Ordo chit chatting. You have taken the opportunity to reinforce contacts and catch up with those people whose influence you either covet or who you want to covet your influence.

Your host for this evening, Sir Gregory Hamilton, an eminent scholar and technologist is being accompanied by a delightful young lady who you would normally ignore completely…and yet your curiosity is piqued as Sir Greg seems to be deferring to her rather than the other way round as might be expected of a piece of eye candy. The Lady deBathayre, as her PAN indicates her to be, is a genuinely young human, perhaps in her late teens or early twenties, with none of the tell tales of leonisation treatments. A data search hasn’t turned anything up in the peerages of any of the European Families so her background is a mystery, and you do love a mystery…?!

[ChromeZephyr]

@E: Tribes, Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 16:19:50; en route to salvage
PAN mode: Passive | ID displayed: SCRAPHEAP

Scrapheap reached into his jacket and tabbed the commlink to voice-command operation. Prolly should have done this earlier, thankfully the roads here are actually still roads.

@Sprogget "Never been outta Puyallup and don't go into Puyallup City unless it's after KE's 'give a shit' hours, so I've never needed a SIN." Scrapheap snorts derisively. " 'Sides, after my "facelift" the poe-poes'd harass me even if I had a legit SIN, let alone a fake one I can't afford anyways."

He jinked the chopper around a crater masquerading as a pothole. Okay, calling them "roads" is a stretch...

@s^3 "Thanks for the offer Sprog, but I got a guy already that'd skin me alive if I stopped takin' this piece of shit to him. Which reminds me I need to take a trip down to his shop, see if he needs anything found. That's what I do, when I'm not rollin' around the Mechanical's buildings keeping the people Spindle and company want "out" out. Apparently this face is good for that, combined with a 12-gauge. Usually I end up in the 'yards for a few nights, digging through the stuff the corps can't dump anywhere else and finding the good shit the tribe uses. Won't live to see 30 given the junk I'm siftin' through, most likely, but 's better than flyin' colors and dyin' over a street corner no one but you and the guy shiv'ing ya gives two fucks about."

[mister__joshua]

@E:CoP/Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:00; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

While perhaps invisible to most of the room, in truth Lady deBathayre had had Awesome's attention from the moment he saw her, with one eye on her while conversing with less important people. He didn't recognise her, and that was always intriguing. Meeting new people, especially women, was one of the few joys he found at these events and he wasn't going to pass this one up. Plus, a genuinely young human female...

He's tried to approach her a few times but kept getting sidelined by polite conversation. He was stuck in one now, paying more attention to the h'orderve and champagne in his hands than what was being spoken at him. He kept shooting her glances, willing her to look this way so he can catch her gaze and start to work his magic.

"Yeah, yeah. I know, yeah. Mhm. Yep. Yes, definitely. We'll catch up soon!". He ended another conversation as politely as he could and moved over towards the woman again.

"Sir Gregory! Nice to see you again. Thank you, this is a wonderful setting for a party." he turns his head slightly to address Lady deBathayre. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've been introduced.". He bowed slightly and kissed her lightly on the hand while looking her in the eyes. The glance was full of charm and grace and he hoped enough to pique her own interest in him.

[Machine Ghost]

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
September 1, 2072, 16:22:07; Truck'n to Milton
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Passive; SIN: Hugo Wright

<<Switched to hidden>>

Sprogget just nods to Spring.

<<They're still around; just told them to have an eye on the æther.>>

@sp³: <<So we have some magic eyes as well as the drone and physical eyes watching for trouble.>>

... I got a guy already that'd skin me alive if I stopped takin' this piece of shit to him ... Won't live to see 30 given the junk I'm siftin' through ...

@sp³: <<All cool. There's always something around that the tribe needs fixed. Plus everything I'm work'n on for my own.>>
@self:So enough knowledge to recognize good salvage, even if Dumptruck says he is not techie ... Maybe, but I'm gonna find a way OUT!
@sp³: <<Well get a good respirator at least. No point checking out earlier than needed.>>

Sprogget notices Spring's hesitation about talking about himself.
@Spring: "Do not need details of favourite playlists here, but enough so that we have some idea of what each other can and can not be expected to do if we end up with a face full of drek inbound. We do not have time to learn to automatically divvy up tasks, like a smooth functioning urban brawl team would, but we can talk some, to get an idea what kinds of things the others might help with. We are not doing a solo scrounge here. If someone has a tasty recipe to serve devil rat for lunch, that might be interest'n. If they are going to run screaming from that rat, we need to know. If they can sing, and have the Rats run, we need to know that too".

@self:Got to remember that not everyone is comfortable with the 'trix. My casual switching between conference and private on the voice, or inserting side comments with text and throwing in AROs for links and data could seem somewhat strange to those that do not ride the electrons.

Continuing on the team voice conference call,
@sp³: <<I have minimal close in combat skills, nothing really for guns, but I can get drones and other hardware to dance plus general matrix work. If we have any breakdowns on the trip, I brought a kit along, and should be able to get us back running quick, at least long enough to bug-out. That monocycle can run some interference. It does not have any weapons mounted, but it does have armor.

Hey Scrapheap, how would you like to play chicken with that mono cycle? It can run right over most road rats, like they was speed bumps, and just keep on going.

I have a bit of skill talking to people too, which can help some, if given the time.>>

[Aria]

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
September 1, 2072 07:01:53;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Alpha Apex

Prospero sways before you and reaching out his staff begins to drag a SIN and profile from the ether. The framed face of a pretty young girl forms in the air between you with the swirling meta data picked out in glowing blue text beneath.

<< Name: Morgan Senlis - Alias: LeFey - Human Female - Age 16 - Height 5' 0'' Weight 91 lbs – Corp Affiliation: Ares>>

“She is in a corp housing facility in ****. She has absconded before and been dragged back and whilst I am keen that she join us, I don’t want there to be any repercussions and she needs to disappear without a trace. Between you, Glyph and her own skills I am sure that you can put up a sufficient technological white wash that she can slip away unnoticed. Time is of the essence though, this needs to happen quickly for reasons I can’t go in to. We can provide you with reasonable expenses of course, otherwise we will have to find other ways to assist you.”

September 1, 2072 09:05:31
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Glyph

You don’t have much time to savour the atmosphere in the node or the feel of sand between your toes and sun on your skin. It’s a close thing but you stop yourself from jumping when the warped form of Caliban lurches into being from nowhere and cackles at your discomfort

”I sent message! He tasked me to find someone for this…too busy, too busy to talk, too busy to talk to Caliban…always do this Caliban, do that, no thanks for me, oh no! I choose you! Talk to Alpha He did, talk to you I do. You go help pretty techno and bring her back here. Caliban play with her!” said with a rising chortle that sets your teeth on edge. He is one nasty piece of programming!

”Go in day, go at night, I don’t care. Talk to Alpha and make your own meaty plan. Bring her back here with nobody seeing and I will be nice…”

[August 31st, 2072, 06:32:47; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]

LeFey

You search the code for meaning and find yourself almost more confused than before. The icon before you is clearly running a stealth program, one sufficient to sleeze past the ice on the home node with apparent ease. You have been allowed to pierce its masking to converse and what your senses tell you don’t make any sense! It seems to be an agent but there are telltales of the Resonance about it. It certainly isn’t a sprite…perhaps it’s an AI but that doesn’t seem quite right either as from what Idoru has revealed to you only metahumans have the ability to feel the flow…

“I am Aria. I was asked to pass on a message that help is coming. If you go to a bulletin board at this location **** tomorrow morning there will be members of the tribe there who will be able to assist you in getting out.”

September 1, 2072 09:15:22
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Glyph & Alpha

A message flashes to you with the address of an obscure matrix bulletin board where you are told the girl will be waiting for you…