IC: Infection, Periclitor Veritas Options

[Grey]

"Right now, all I'm asking for is silence and an open ear."

[grendel]

"Go."

[Buddha72]

"I will hear you now."

[TinkerGnome]

Warpath watched the woman intently as she rose. His vision outlined her in various digital resolutions and displayed multiple profiles in thermal and contour renditions. The temptation to linger in the beatiful dance of the electronics was strong, but he shut the vision modes down one by one until only regular vision remained.

He listened intently to her speech, or her speech about not giving a speech. When she finished and the others had said their pieces, Warpath noded. "You know our reps, and we know yours. Ten grand is more than sufficient to hear you out under the circumstances."

He said it plainly, though his thoughts were on what might befall those with knowledge of the plans who decided to walk. Ten grand was enough for a short vacation, which would be necessary if he turned the job down. No sense in hanging around Seattle waiting for someone to pick him up for questioning.

[A Clockwork Lime]

Ol' Scratch was leaning back in his chair as he waited for the meeting to start. While chewing on a toothpick he snagged somewhere between the front door and the table, his eyes scanned over this sundry group of riff-raff. Whenever eye contact was made, he'd just flash a roguish smile and give a polite nod. But when his sight fell on Onna, he gave a noticable pause.

Catching the wooden frame of the table with one of his hooves, he leaned further back in his chair until he was dangerously close to falling on his ass. He tried to make it look subtle, but his preoccupation with Oona's body was pretty blatant.

It wasn't until Miss Young made her offer that he sat up straight and looked her over, too.

"Great," he thought to himself, "here I am in a swanky steak house being offered ten grand just to hear some slitch make a real deal proposition, and the only thing I have on my mind is tail envy over some freak of nature. Real professional, kiddo. Real profesional.

"But hey, at least this Young skirt seems to be honest in her sincerity. It's obvious she's a bit nervous, but there's something hopeful about her, too. 'Sides, if she's throwing ten G's at each of us just to hear the real offer, it's gotta be something fun. Especially with the amount of chrome and mojo she's gathered at the table tonight."

He sneaked in a quick look at Silk and Ayo in particular before flashing yet another devestatingly charming grin at Miss Young. "As long as dinner's free, count me in."

[Fenris]

"Please proceed."

[Buddha72]

Onna fights the urge to squirm under Ol' Scratch's stare. At least now I know what I have been smelling. She continues to take in the complex blend of scents filling the room. Her curiosity is peaked by the masked male and his altered scent, she can't quite place it. It shifts between man and something more primal. The room clearly contains alphas and predators aplenty.

[Shadow]

Shadow smiles at the offer. He waits to hear what others say, though he is sure that it will be yes. "I came to work, and unless the job is completly insane I can make a reasonable assurance to you that I wil take it. 10K up front is more than enough to gaurentee my silence on this matter." His eyes catch the interesting play between the goat and the japanese women. Some kind of rut they got going on. The way their nose twitch ever so slightly makes me glad I had my scent glands tailored to leave no trace.

[Grey]

Miss Young simply nods, you gather that she expected nothing less, but wanted to make things nice and clear. This job is the highest level of Top Secret and shes letting you all in on the big secret.

"Right. For some time now, the Draco Foundation has been receiving troubling reports and rumors concerning Ares. At first we dismissed them as rubbish, but more and more of our agents have been confirming them. Ares is using Bugs."

She pauses for a moment to let that sink in...

"Your job will be to check out a research facility that, if you follow the food chain, is owned by Ares. The Elves out in Tarislar have been hiring KE for several years to give them extra security out in an area where the Star tries to stay out of. About a year ago, Ares made a deal with the governor and purchased an old building in an 'out of the way' location to do some research on cybernetics and magic. Security is in house. Thats right, in house... not Knight Errant. Although, they do have a contract with KE for HTR. What they DO have are Bugs. Granted, none of this is confirmed yet. Thats where you come in... I want you to break into the facility, get whatever intel you can, and bring it home."

[Buddha72]

Onna shifts her attention to Ms. Young. "Are we to bring a bug back?"

[A Clockwork Lime]

Without so much as batting an eye, Ol' Scratch is quick to respond almost before Young has a chance to get past the first use of the word 'bug.'

"I'm in."

[Grey]

"No, do not bring one back. The more of them you can kill the better. If you can get pictures, or even better, data off their security network, that should do fine."

[TinkerGnome]

Warpath nodded stoicly as well. "I'm in as well. If we do this right, I'm guessing we'll not have to worry about the bugs themselves..." He gives a lopsided grin, "But, just in case, anyone know where to get a metric ton of bug spray?"

[A Clockwork Lime]

"Not a problem." There's a hint of something almost tenacious in the curt responses the satyr is giving.

[Buddha72]

Onna waits for a moment to open, not wanting to talk over anyone present. "I will help you do this." Her tone is sincere and firm.

[grendel]

"Just so I'm clear on what you're asking: you want us to retrieve pictures and, if possible data, from their security network detailing the presence of bug spirits and their uses for them in their research, as well as attempting to engage and destroy the bug spirits?"

[Blitz]

:: Silk breathes in sharply, but recovers just as fast. She had never run up against Bugs, but they had left their mark on Sven. In some ways, she attributed his betrayal to the trauma he'd experience in New Orleans. ::

:: With a grave nod, she absently strokes the pendant around her neck ::

"Are you with me in this, Rus? I have a feeling you understand even more than I do the danger...."

[Digital Heroin]

Immortal arrives to the Steakhouse on foot. He'd spent the afternoon talking shop with Jimmy at the Tacoma Gunshow, and had taken the bus back uptown. The consideration crossed his mind, as he walked up the block, that this might be the kind of place that doesn't take kindly to patrons packing heat.

Frag them.

The Guardian was concealed under his jacket for a reason. So nosey people didn't whine about it. He could care less about a target seeing it, hell, that might help.

Stepping up to the entrance of the steakhouse, Immortal looks the digs over, and grunts. High class scum. Then again, who is he to pass up a real steak?

[Dashifen]

Father has been silent up until now, only nodding to indicate that he was willing to listen to Ms. Young's story. At the mention of bugs his eyebrows come up, but other than that he remains relatively stoic.

Waiting for a lull in the conversation, he steps in to begin grilling the Ms. Young with a few questions. Ignoring the normal rules of etiquette, he just plows through his questions as his mind works faster than his mouth. "You mentioned getting data off of their security network. As that is my specialty, I have a few questions to that end. Firstly, are you aware of external matrix access or will I be required to enter with the rest of the team? Secondly, you say that their security is in house, does that include matrix security? If not, are you aware of whether or not their security is based off of the Ares Iconography? Lastly, and this counts for us all, what cover can the Draco Foundation provide us in the form of misdirection of authorities, equipment, and so on or is this to be entirely, if you'll excuse the cliche, in the shadows?"

[Shadow]

In his mind Shadow carefully analysed the statements of each runner. As always Grendel was concerned about tactical matters, something Shadow admired about the grim elf. The two women seemed eager, even if they didn't show it, to help. Must have something against bugs. A slight shudder worked it's way up his spine, a dim memory on a cold night of what several women possessed by mantis spirits had done to a Go-Go gang that thought they were an easy target.

The one calling himself Father seemed wise, he must be considering how old he was, asking questions before blindly accepting was a sign of that. Scratch was probably just looking for a fight, he seemed the type. Good thing to, 'cause the type tended to be able to handle themselves. Lastly was the late comer Immortal, and the chromed warrior, Warpath. Both seemed more than competent and completely capable. Shadow doubted that this was the 'best' Seattle had to offer, flattery was a common tactic among Johnsons, but he felt they were definitely of the best. For the time being he remained quiet and watchful.

[Fenris]

"I'm in."

His voice was almost flat, his acceptance seemed so much less emotional then some of the others, it made him wonder. It was another job, perhaps a bit more dangerous then most, but it would undoubtably pay well. A few others almost sounded like they were signing up for a personal crusade.

[Grey]

@grendel

"Exactly."

@Silk

The spirit warms around your neck, "I am always with you, but yes, this is a great danger. Likely the most threatening you've seen. Ever. But if what the woman says is true, this threat needs to be delt with..."

@Father

Miss Young takes in the questions without fluster and answers, "Its a closed network, so you'll need to go in. We dont know anything about their internal network. We'll do what we can to provide you with equipment you may need, within reason. But our name can't be assosiated with this mission, so beyond equipment support, you'll be on your own."

[Blitz]

:: With a soft smile, she lifts her head and locks eyes with Miss Young. ::

"How negotiable is your offer?"

[Grey]

"How does ninty thousand each, on top of the ten you get for showing up, sound?"

[Blitz]

"Most acceptable. You have secured my services."