IC: Down in the Puyallups VI, Someone fracking attacked the Mall Office! Options

[phlapjack77]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:10, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Lucky

<<@Team[Lucky]: How about a show of trust? I'll go in unarmed. My luck probably will hold long enough for them to see I'm not their enemy.>>

[Saytr]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:10, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Zion

Zion just keeps looking at the building what were they up to. shooting at them like that to stop us maybe they plant o leave from the back who knew. hearing lucky mention going in unarmed he just thought to himself with the luck he last knew he had almost dying almost a year ago and the predicament he was in now he reached in and handed him a grenade. "if your going in unarmed you might as well eat this and be done." zion said smirking. looking towards the what looked to be abandoned building he simply shouts out " listen we only want some information. a few words on the johnson you were escorting and then carrying your buddies out we arent here to finish the job we only want to question you about the entire situation." <@Team[zion]"if they do not come out in a timely manner we will have to go in after them if you have stun spells please use them i will switch to gel ammunition and flash bangs to cuncus mojo throw a bunch of knock out magic at them and we will have to make sure they are donw for the count once we are done if they do not co operate.">

[Redjack]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:12, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Torch tries to contact the doctor, without success.
<<@Team [Torch] He appears to be offline. I can't make contact.>>

<<@Team [Papa] Wi-Fi blocking, signal dampening or something of that nature is inhibiting locating any of their comlinks.>>

Lucky makes his way towards the entrance, without weapons and with his arms outstretched and raised. Zion calls out as Lucky makes his way forward.. step by step... covering the distance slowly, deliberately.

When he nearly reaches the sidewalk, a voice calls out from inside the building. "That's close enough." The male voice then continues, "You've got my attention, but if this is a ruse so your team can get a better position... Well, then we're all going the ever after together."

[Saytr]

"Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:12, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Zion

Hearing a rational choice he thought to himslef, what is the best course of action. Hearing the male voice have a little interest he looks around holstets his weapons slowly standing from behind the vehicle. ""Fair enough, listen we saw the footage from the mall and are looking for a few answers, seeing as you and your team showed up before the cloud and fodder started we figured atarting with you and yours would be the logical first step since you were inside qhere the action started.so lwts all have a nice civil conversation and maybe work this out for both parties advantage if possible."

[phlapjack77]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:12, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Lucky

Lucky chuckled slightly at Zion's jest about the grenade, seeing truth in his words. But, even so, this seemed the right thing to do. Maybe it was his cop training. Maybe it was some other instinct. Maybe it was the little voice in the back of his head. Whatever the reason, Lucky didn't have the same doubts that Zion was expressing. The ex-cop had been in these scenarios before, and they'd come out right before. He knew what he was doing...or maybe he'd just been lucky.

As Lucky advanced on the open doorway, arms held wide and away from his body, he patched in his vid and audio feeds to the teamnet, adding little AROs to the network for anyone who wanted to see what he saw, hear what he heard. Recording every step of the way. Old habits were hard to break, apparently.

Hearing the voice telling him to stop, Lucky had a brief moment of panic and thought longingly of his firearm, left safely in the passenger seat of Aeryn's vehicle. He was at the owner of the voice's mercy...exposed. Well, you've stepped in it now. Nowhere to go but forward, neh? Don't sweat it, I'll cover you. Hearing those words brought some relief to Lucky's mind, and he briefly had a thought about what his aura must be like right now, flashing through all the colors of the rainbow.

"We're not here to fight. We just want to exchange some intel, get some leads on a case that both of our groups could benefit from solving. What would make you feel safe right now?"

[Redjack]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:13, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Lucky
The wait seems like an eternity before the voice speaks to Lucky again. "Step into the doorway."

Whether it being a throwback to a cop's voice, the gentle conversation of a down and out runner or just that the voice in the darkness was simply looking for a way out, sometimes a leap of faith is required. Today, Lucky had earned his name again.

Stepping into the door way, his low-light and vision enhancement both kick in, allowing him to make out the shape of who must be the street samurai Smack; he is holding a very big gun. "Make your case." The darkness is not complete, but Smack stands in the darkest part of it, obscuring his features and expressions from the little light here.

[phlapjack77]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:13, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Lucky

We've got vid of your group at the Office, meeting with a Johnson right before the drek goes down. Some heavy hitters are NOT happy with what happened. All the damage that occurred...the cost to business...the loss of life. Reputations took a hit. And initial thoughts are that your group was responsible.

Lucky pauses, gathers his thoughts.

We've been hired to find out what really went down. It's starting to look like your team was set up. We need to know what really happened tonight. Why were you meeting with Simpson? Who took him?

<<@Team[Lucky]: Everyone getting all this?>>

[Redjack]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:14, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

"Damn right reputations took a hit." The street sam is clearly agitated. "Whoever the hell it was, they were obviously after the Johnson and we were just in the way. The spanking my team took was hard fast and unexpected. Who would have expected them to drop out of the freaking ceiling in the Mall Office of all places?" He paused a moment before continuing, "Simpson was out of sorts. He contacted us directly, going around our fixer. Since we'd worked with him before and given the immediate need to meet, it didn't sound all that out of sorts. He really hadn't gotten into job-"

He pauses and slightly turns his head as if focusing on something else before addressing Lucky again. "Ok, the job. We didn't get much, but here was the jist. He needed us for a pair of extractions... and he was going along. We really hadn't negotiated a price, nor gotten into details when it went to hell, except that travel was going to be required."

[phlapjack77]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:14, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Lucky

"So Simpson wanted out along with his wife and daughter. Any idea why he went around your fixer and contacted you directly? Sounds like he didn't trust them. And we saw the ceiling at the office, that was some professional work. What can you tell us of that other team?"

[Redjack]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:14, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

His weapon lowers slightly as he tells the tale, but still pointed towards Lucky. "Like I said, he was agitated, describing an extraction, but he didn't know for sure where yet, just that there would be travel and he was going. Wilt starts to argue that point, Hips starts to say something and then, 'BOOM', something explodes in the front room. Then the ceiling kinda evaporates above us as our attention is out the door. Spirits, stick-n-shock, neurostun... In a heartbeat our ass was kicked."

He stops and almost growls before continuing, "If they had wanted to kill Simpson instead, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I saw the blades of the helicopter above, the flash bang, the muzzle flash, smelt the neurostun... They lit me up like a Christmas tree." He takes a deep breath, calming himself. "When I regained my senses, the rest of my team was sure and rightly screwed and the Johnson was gone-" another pause then almost as if repeating someone else, "Spirits... definitely a helo... very efficient... All appeared to be elves or humans... they were in tactical gear.... Faces obscured."

[Saytr]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:14, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
zion

zion listened intently listening to every word, hearing the last bit sound almost robot like he wondered if they were really telling the truth of if someone was feeding him the information. still at least they were talking <@papa[zion]"done suppose you can find video of the chopper flight in a attempt to see what direction they took off?">

<@team[Zion]"Lucky reading you loud and clear, do they need any other help. i could help out the street doc with getting them patched up and make this a little less a stand off standing out here posted next to the building?">

[phlapjack77]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:14, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Lucky

"Interesting. And we've been hired by SK to get Simpson back. His wife and daughter disappeared yesterday. Sounds like he was trying to hire your team to retrieve them. It would explain his agitation, the way he was acting. Wonder why he insisted on going along on the run? Maybe he knew others were looking for him, figured your team would be good protection..."

A thought flits across the ex-cop's brow.

"When exactly did Simpson contact you? It could line up with when his family disappeared."

Lucky pauses as he reads Zion's message, then he responds.

<@Team[Lucky] : Good question. I'll bring it up.>

"You say your team's fragged - anyone need medical help? We can get some here, null sheen."

[Thanee]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:14, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Aeryn; PAN = passive [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore

Aeryn listened into the conversation going on, Lucky seemed to handle it well. Hopefully, he could gain the trust of Smack.

<< @Team [Aeryn] We should arrange a meeting with everyone here, both teams, and then see what we can do about the situation... >>

[Redjack]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:15, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Smack replies, "Four... Four twenty seven, that's when the call came in." A short pause before he continues, "From a burner com." He shifts, uneasy in his position before continuing, "The team voted to trust you... Doesn't mean that I do. Nothing personal, but I just pulled my team out of a shit storm 'cause we were too trusting. Send in your medic. No weapons... And your mage, if they can heal. He steps forward, almost into the light. Anything funny and we all go up is smoke together though, got it?"

<<@Team [Papa] Found some grainy video where a guy thought there was a helicopter over the Mall during the attack. He said the wind moved, but he didn't see it. Then I found a blog entry where someone said they saw a huge spirit heading east-south-east from the Mall after the attack. The blogger said he was checked the astral and there it was, dual-natured and all, but he hadn't seen the manifested form.>>

<<@Team [Torch] Sounds like it was manifested, probably concealing the helo. I would imagine the Smack's sensor upgrades and distance is what allowed him to make it out. So the extraction team's mage is either powerful, overcast, there are multiples or any combination there of. In any case, my job just got harder; I love me a challenge!>>

[Saytr]

Zion puts his weapons away leaving nothing to imagination, stands up and walks towards the building. Hands slightly out palms facing the building. <@team[zion]"im heading in no weapons, ill use what sipplies the street doc as available and see what i can do to help mouse if you have some magical healing please follow my lead. Lucky keep them talking while we help them out papa see if you cant get a good fix on that choopers landing or destination. Torch if you can do a little astral recon while we are in thier general direction that would be awesome">

[phlapjack77]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:14, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Lucky

"Four twenty-seven lines up with our data on when Simpson's wife and daughter went missing...just a moment. Ok, one of my team is coming in, unarmed. He'll be able to assist with any injuries."

Lucky motioned (slowly) to the approaching form of Zion. Then he continued talking to Smack.

"The working theory is that this abduction has something to do with a land purchase in Seattle that Simpson was involved in. Something special about that area of land..." Maybe this would lure Shadow Team Six into revealing the Giger Inc. paydata, without Lucky having to mention that his team new something about it already.

[Aria]

<@team[zion]"im heading in no weapons, ill use what sipplies the street doc as available and see what i can do to help mouse if you have some magical healing please follow my lead. Lucky keep them talking while we help them out papa see if you cant get a good fix on that choopers landing or destination. Torch if you can do a little astral recon while we are in thier general direction that would be awesome">

<@Zion/team[Mouse]"Sorry, my mojo helps me stay out of sight, not sure that's going to be that useful here unless things go really south! I'll hang around out here and watch our backs...">

[Redjack]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:15, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Zion & Torch disarm and make their way to the front of the building.
<<@Team [Torch] I'm not good at subtle. If this goes sideways, I generally make a lasting impression.>>

Smack replies to Lucky as the duo approach, "Makes a rude sort of sense as it's the last job we worked for him... I guess." he frowns, then looks to Lucky, "I don't see all the angle though."

Torch and Zion reach the door.

[Thanee]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:15, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Aeryn; PAN = passive [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore

<< @Team [Aeryn] I will stay in the car and keep an eye out here. >>

[phlapjack77]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:15, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Lucky

"Yeah. Looks like once we figure out the angle, we might know who's behind all this. You able to tell me anything about the last job you worked for him?"

<<@Team[Lucky]: You two be careful in there. Can you give us vid feeds while inside?>>

[Saytr]

"where are your wounded?" zion looks around once inside letting his glasses transmit what he seeing to the rest of the team he identifies all emergency exits aswell as any improvised exits if needed to making a quick exit by other than normal means.

[Redjack]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:25, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Zion, Torch and Lucky are directed deeper into the building by Smack. They come to the area where the doctor is working on other team members. Hips is waiting around one corner, weapon drawn as the team arrives. She is on the defensive though, not yet fully trusting the team. Wilt and Crush are being bandaged, neither appear to be fully conscious. Vitals on Crush are weak.

"Wilt is suffering from overcasting, but he'll recover. It'll just take time ." Torch quickly diagnosis. Crush has come too. No other team members are present.

The doc addresses Crush, "Broke a rib, which in turn penetrated a lung. Truthfully looks like it was unintentional. Bad Luck."

Hips scowls, "I thought as much." As Zion and Torch assist the doc, she continues the conversation from earlier as if she was engaged. "The Giger job might be in play, but if someone took it personal, you would have thought they would have geeked us. That job may play into the big picture somewhere, but not sure how. It was land survey. Geological, title search, environmental, etc.- You said his wife and daughter are missing." She pauses, "Listen, he was a straight up Johnson, for as far as Johnsons go... and we owe a little payback here. Granted, just a butt-kicking and not turning them into grease stains, but our rep took a hit tonight as well as our bodies. If you'd share some of the glory, we'd pull our own and work any potential compensation directly back from Simpson." She pauses, looking to the side for a moment, "Wilt is down so its MY fucking call." Looking back to the team, "Sorry. The -no- pay is a problem for part of the team. We may not all be in."

[phlapjack77]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:25, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Lucky

"For your team, there's got to be more to it than money though. Like you said, your rep took a huge hit tonight. You're being eyeballed by a few of the big players from the Mall. These things have a way of spreading, trickling down to other areas of the shadows. If I were you I'd try to get back in the good graces before the stain spreads too far. And one of the best ways to do that would be to help us."

<<@Team[Lucky]: We've got eyes on Crush, Hips, Wilt and Smack. The rest of their team is staying unseen but in communication with those here. Not sure if they're nearby or not. So far, so good...>>

[Saytr]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:25, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex
Zion

Zion looks to the wounded and to the others so where are the rest of your crew nonchalantly, while he finishes changing a dressing that was long over due. "look like you guys are no worse for wear a few cuts and bruises the only one to worry about is already being seen to. any help tracking down Mr. Simpson would be much appreciated and any footage you guys have of the assault would be great as well we have our own people that might be able to take a look at anything you have to get a decent lay of what happened in the smoke and explosions. Where are the rest of your crew anyways?"

[Redjack]

Saturday, March 28th, 2071@01:27, 43rd Ave SW & S. Meridian, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Hips looks at Lucky, her scowl deepening as he speaks. "Good thing you're not us then." She pauses a moment looking them over, "Look. I told you already, some of us are in."

She turns to Zion, listening, then replies. "We'll get the video to you in a few minutes. As to the rest of the team... They are someplace, not here." Almost immediately, a message object appears for Zion. The video is short and edited. Faces and body features are obscured and the perspective is first person, probably cyber eyes or vision enhancements. The 20 second clip matches the details Smack provided earlier.

A groggy Wilt talks for the first time, now from a sitting position on the floor. "What next?"