Nothing's Free in the Free Zone (IC), Adventure 1: Broken Star Options

[Chrome Head]

Amy and Overkill, Leyden Street, 12:10 PM, July 30th, 2075

"This is Mr. Heinrich, and my name is Ms. Bell. We're looking into the terrible events that happened here earlier this month. We thought maybe one of the residents here might have seen something that could be useful in our investigation. Has anyone of you seen what happened that day?"

[Lobo0705]

Amy and Overkill, Leyden Street, 12:11 PM, July 30th, 2075

The kid looks at you a little funny, and says "You talking about Mr. Manuel? Nah, we didn't see nothing." One of the smaller boys, around 9, olive skin, short curly hair, backs up a little more, behind the others.

"Anyways, why aren't the Star looking into this? Figured they'd be the ones asking questions." He looks torn over whether or not to start dialing.

[DrZaius]

UCAS Hub, Rita's, 12:30 PM, July 30th, 2075

Nodding in agreement with Jack's plan, Grease pens a quick message to the rest of the team, and attaches the video file.

<<@Team [Grease]: Had a productive meeting with Argent. It looks like there's a hit squad out there working on our targets. We've got a pretty decent vid of one of 'em called "Lynx" (the shooter in the 'trid we attached). He's said to also work with a rigger named Gutter, a merc named Stinger, a troll named Truck, and a mage named Falcon. We want to talk to Mitchell's girlfriend next, see if she saw anything else; figure we'll try to get all our Hub business wrapped today. Overkill, is there anyway you can grab her workplace / commcode? Talking with Jack, I think we'd prefer her to come to us rather than trying to cross the border. Let me know, thanks.>>

Looking up from his commlink, Grease tells Jack, "We should really try to put a timeline together on this. We have an idea of what happened, but we still have no idea on why. I think the order of the killings might have something to do with it."

[Jack VII]

UCAS Hub, Rita's, 12:36 PM, July 30th, 2075

"That's definitely a possibility." Jack pulled out his Ikon and pushed a few buttons, calling up a map feed of the Front Range Free Zone area with AROs denoting the crimes. Offering an invite to Grease's commlink, the ork shared the feed.

"So the first murder was OFC Wright. She was killed by a group of gunmen partolling close to the Sioux Nations border on June 2nd." A small ARO of a policeman icon expands and contracts, flashing and blinking on the display. As the ARO resumes its static image, another ARO in the Warrens activates. "The next murder was on June 14th. This is the guy who was murdered in his apartment by magic. He's also the guy who rolled up Twoman and the bag of pills."

As that ARO faded to inactivity, a series of AROs in the UCAS sector activated one after another as Jack reviewed them. "The next murder was Jun 19th out in the sticks. A routine traffic stop, but the ballistics recovered matched the weapon used in the first murder that Amy and Overkill checked out today, the one with the missing witness. Next on the hit parade was the Stuffer Shack robbery that Amy and Overkill just checked out. That's the one where Officer Jackson claimed to have busted someone holding green pills and happened June 26th. The next one after that was Manuel on July 11th. He's the guy who was shot in his home but doesn't seem to really have a clear connection with the rest of the cases. He worked Robbery. After that one, Officer Hawthorne was taken out on July 18th while eating lunch at a Tasty Burger. We don't know much about that one, but he did work interdiction. The last one in the UCAS Hub proper was July 20th. That was the Newton murder. That's the one where Overkill found the doctored footage and where we have a missing witness. The final murder was the Mitchell case at QXT."

As the last ARO faded back to its regular state, Jack took a swing of beer and thought for a minute. "Alright, so setting aside the Wright murder, let's look at the Thomas murder. That's the guy who busted Twoman and confiscated 100 of those pills. Let's say that put a crimp on the supply of Crimson Fire. They order another shipment, which, for the sake of building this story, comes from somewhere in the east. A week later, a random patrol guy was murdered during a traffic stop in the sticks out east. Maybe he inadvertently intercepted the shipment to replace what was confiscated from Twoman. The next murder was related to yet another drug bust that might or might not have involved Crimson Fire. That was basically another week later. Setting aside Manuel, the next three murders following his involved officers working smuggling and gang control..."

"One thing about the Manuel case is that he covered the Green Valley Ranch area, which is pretty far east of here. The one thing I don't really get is the concentration of killings in Commerce City near the Sioux border. Unless they are shipping the stuff used to make the drugs from the Sioux border, east to a processing facility, and then back west to the Warrens. Seems like a lot of extra steps..." With parched throat, Jack downed the rest of his beer and crossed his arms.

[Always Overkill]

Amy and Overkill, Leyden Street, 12:11 PM, July 30th, 2075

Drave hung back, and remembering the foolishness of youth, he tried to look "too cool" to join the conversation. Hearing the kid chime in with the question regarding Lone Star, Drave answered him.

"Sometimes the Star can't handle a particular problem, its just too big for them to handle. That's where we come in." He let their imaginations come up with who or what he was referring to. "Lets go, Bell; these kids didn't see anything, and wouldn't even know what to tell us if they did."

[Lobo0705]

Amy and Overkill, Leyden Street, 12:11 PM, July 30th, 2075

The young teen snorts at Overkill's words. "Hey lady, your friend is a fragging idiot." With that, he shakes his head, and kicks the ball down the street, and the kids all race after it.

With a quick flip of his middle finger at Overkill, he tears off down the street after his friends.

[Chrome Head]

Amy and Overkill, Leyden Street, 12:11 PM, July 30th, 2075

Amy is baffled by this kid who just put a grown man back in his place. "I suppose he can be sometimes."

Amy and Overkill hop back on the motorcycle and drive down to the Stuffer Shack.

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:35 PM, July 30th, 2075

When they arrive, Amy checks her commlink and responds with a subvocal message.

<<@Team [Amy's voice]: "Hey guys, good to hear from you. The video is excellent evidence and I think it's the most advanced case so far. We've been to the Manuel house where the widow didn't feel like talking at all. She will receive visitors who could be interested in buying the house however, which is where you guys can probably come in. At the stuffer shack, we got an unreliable eye witness account of the Jackson murder and the manager is coming back from break, so we will try to convince him to show us footage of the murder scene. Interesting fact, the officer killed had just made a bust on a dealer of supposedly green pills the day before she died. These could have been Crimson Fire. The whole thing looked like a hit disguised as a robbery. Good luck arranging a meeting with Sanders.">>

[DrZaius]

UCAS Hub, Rita's, 12:36 PM, July 30th, 2075

Reading through Amy's note, the elf begins to nod and smile. "Yes, yes, I've got an idea.. You're probably not going to like it." Watching the Ork make a tusky frown, Grease changes the subject. "At any rate; let's try to run this Sanders thing to ground. I think we're getting closer to seeing all the connections, but we're still missing key pieces of data for us to put it all together. After Sanders, we can try a run on the widow Manuel, or maybe try to track down this Lynx."

Grease lowers his head and starts composing a message to Sanders, which he BCC's to the rest of the team.

<<@Sanders: Hello Ms. Sanders. I am working on a special task force investigating a series of murders related to drug trafficking in and around the Denver Metroplex. We have reason to believe your boyfriend may have been a victim of an attack directed at hindering this investigation. As my assets are mostly undercover, we would like to meet you in either the Hub or the UCAS zone to have an informal chat with several of our officers. Bear in mind they will not be uniformed Lone Star personel; they are attempting to uncover the cause of these attacks without being known to the criminal organizations, who have eyes and ears on all official channels. If you are available for a short interview, please let us know your availability and we will arrange a meet. I appreciate any and all help you can provide; I hope to be able to charge someone with the murder of Officer Mitchell soon.>>

[Jack VII]

UCAS Hub, Rita's, 12:37 PM, July 30th, 2075

Jack frowned deeply. Grease had been somewhat hit or miss on good ideas so far and if the elf already thought Jack wasn't going to like his plan, he didn't have high hopes. Reading through the message to Sanders, Jack asked, "Even though we're telling her we're undercover, do you think we should try to snag something that might pass for a badge? Since she's in the CAS, she may not be too familiar with Lone Star."

[Lobo0705]

UCAS Hub, Rita's, 12:55 PM, July 30th, 2075

<<Hello Mr. Moss. My name is Karem Dakak, and I am an attorney for Klein, Smith, and Johnson. Mrs. Sanders contacted me regarding you inquiry, and while she is willing to cooperate, she would like to have me present. Our firm is licensed to do business in both the CAS and UCAS - should you require any bona fides, I will be happy to provide them. If you can please provide the case number and a list of questions, I would like to review them before any deposition of my client. I am happy to have the deposition done either here in the CAS or at our offices in the UCAS. Thank you, Karem Dakak Esq.>>

[Lobo0705]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:35 PM, July 30th, 2075

While Amy rode along behind him, Overkill seethed inside. Little punk - doesn't he know that we are trying to help people like him?

Turning the corner, he mentally connects to the matrix via his deck, pulling up a VR window in a portion of his visual cortex.

While his meat body controlled his motorcycle, his persona, now not just a virtual angel, but rather a specter of retribution, launched itself upward and back toward where the children were playing.

<<Soaring over the houses, looking at the milieu of icons below him, he quickly fixed his eye on the icon of the brat's commlink. Moving silently down, he eased past the security with contempt, his hands sending a constant stream of 1's and 0's between him and his target.

When he had fully infiltrated the boy's commlink, he paused a moment, thinking of the right image of his vengeance. After a quick deliberation, he extended his hands high above his head, and the 1's and 0's flowed upward, spiraling skyward to form a huge spiked mace. With all his might, Overkill brought the blunt instrument down, smashing the child's icon to smithereens.>>

With a little chuckle, he quickly vanished back to his meat body, and dismounted the bike outside the Stuffer Shack

I think I may keep that from Amy, she might not understand.

[Chrome Head]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:35 PM, July 30th, 2075

Before going into the Stuffer Shack, Amy whispers to Overkill "I've got a plan to make the manager very cooperative. He'll agree to what we ask of him if I can use... hrm.. magic.. on him before we go in. I can do the talking, but you'll have to ask for what you need with the computer stuff yourself. Soka?" Amy hated using the word "magic" to refer to her abilities, but it was just the easiest way to get the point across. "Oh and we'll have to act quickly once this gets started, we won't have too much time."

[Jack VII]

UCAS Hub, Rita's, 13:00 PM, July 30th, 2075

Jack's commlink buzzed for his attention. Picking up the device, he noticed he had a new text message from Honeypot. Calling up the message to his image link, his eyes adopted 'the glaze' that usually came over people when they read things in AR. He smiled faintly as he finished the message. Opening up his AR keyboard, he typed a quick message back to his fence and then composed a message to the team.

<<@Team [JustJack] Change of plans esta noche. Well, for me at least. I gotta meet a contact for dinner. You're welcome to swing by Nic's at 1700 if you still want to... just let me know so I can tell him you're coming. Trust me, the last thing you need to experience is an angry Mech-Troll with a shotgun. Amy, I may be picking up the package you ordered at my meet. I'll find out for sure.>>

Jack looked up to find a visibly annoyed Grease sending his own message to someone.

[Always Overkill]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:35 PM, July 30th, 2075


Drave raised an eyebrow when he heard Amy's plan involved magic. He was remembering his recent missteps on the job, but forced himself to recognize that not everyone had the same bad luck he did. "If you think it will get us access to that footage, I will follow your lead. Just remember, be careful."

Looking on, Drave waited for Amy to signal when she was ready to go in.

[Chrome Head]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:35 PM, July 30th, 2075

Amy looks through the windows of the Shack and notices an older man wearing the store's colored shirt moving about and talking to Steve. He's clearly an employee and seems to have a name tag with a title written on it. That must be the manager.

She waits a few moments until he's occupied looking down at a legal pad for some reason. This should give her the time she needs to concentrate on putting the idea she wants inside his head. Using her special relationship with the spirits of her ancestors, Amy focuses spiritual energy towards the manager's mind and soul, and attempts to impose an idea that he will be forced to come up with. "I will help and trust anyone investigating the murder that occurred in the Stuffer Shack, because I really want them to discover what happened and tell me."

Yes, that should work. I have to move fast now.

Not wasting any time, she walks very rapidly towards the store, going straight for that man, assuming Overkill is following along. Once inside, she waves in his direction, and speaks loudly to make sure she gets his attention. "Hey you, are you the manager?"

All right, I've almost got him now.

[Lobo0705]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:35 PM, July 30th, 2075

The store manager looks up from his work at Amy's call. She moves quickly over to him, past Steve, who is trying to ring up a customer and stare at her at the same time.

The manager, a heavyset man with an unkempt beard clears his throat and moves toward her.

"Yes, miss? How can I help you?"

[Chrome Head]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:35 PM, July 30th, 2075

Good, I won't lose track of him. Now I have to delay just a little more until he's really got the thought in his head.

"Hi, my name is Ms. Bell and this here, well just over there behind me, is my partner Mr. Heinrick." Amy smiles at the guy and waits for Overkill to reach them. "We were talking to Steve earlier and he seems like a really nice guy." This was going nowhere but she had almost completed the mystical weaving of his mind. "He told us all about what happened the day of the robbery and the murder of poor Officer Jackson inside this store." There, he's got the right idea now. "You see, we're investigating the murder." She emphasized the word 'investigating'. "Can you help us?"

[Lobo0705]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:35 PM, July 30th, 2075

"Sure, miss, and sir - that was a terrible thing to happen in the store. We've had some petty theft, but never a murder here. It makes me nervous to come to work each day. I'd be happy if someone found out who was behind it."

He looks eager to please, and it seems Amy's spell has nudged him in the right direction.

"I'm not sure how I can help, but I'm happy to try."

[Chrome Head]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:35 PM, July 30th, 2075

"Thank you so much. What would we need specifically, Mr. Heinrick?" This is going well. Now let's hope we get all we need quickly.

[Always Overkill]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:35 PM, July 30th, 2075


Drave hung back behind Amy and watched as she used her magic on the Stuffer Shack manager. Whatever it was it must have been subtle, there was little to notice despite the fact that Drave knew she was casting; channeling spirits as she had once described to him. When he saw Amy make a bee-line for the manager, Drave quickly followed behind.

As he listened to Amy introduce them to the manager, he was surprised how naturally she seemed to step into role; this was only her second day and she was already starting to sound like an old hand at this. And to Amy's credit, the manager appeared instantly interested in helping them with their investigation.

When Amy asked about what they specifically needed, Drave chimed in without missing a beat. "We need access to the security camera footage from the day of the shooting, and any reports on the robbery or the ensuing investigation you have prepared for corporate. They would be invaluable to our search for Officer Jackson's killer."

[Lobo0705]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:36 PM, July 30th, 2075

"Sure, no problem" The manager quickly opens up a VR window and starts manipulating data. His persona is a slimmer, taller version of himself, and it quickly disappears inside the Stuffer Shack host.

In a few moments, the persona appears again, holding a glowing cube. With a quick, shovel-pass motion, he flicks the cube across virtual space to Overkill, who adroitly catches it and passes it to his Agent to copy.

"Is that all you guys need? Is there something else I can do - do you want me to watch the footage with you and we can brainstorm ideas?"

Steve mutters sotto voce, "Kiss ass.", his face pinched in jealousy that Amy seems to be paying much more attention to his manager than him.

[Chrome Head]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:36 PM, July 30th, 2075

"Sure, let's have a quick look on your 'link."

[Lobo0705]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:37 PM, July 30th, 2075

The manager seems delighted to be a part of the investigation. He looks quizzically at Amy when she suggests that they view it on his commlink, but obliges and holds it up, the small screen showing the footage. The image is clear, if tiny.

The video shows Officer Jackson, a tall blonde woman, her Lone Star uniform clean and well kept, getting a large self-serve soykaf. She then moves to the front to where Steve lounges behind the counter. The two chat for perhaps 30 seconds or so, and then the door opens.

The man who enters is a well-built human male in his 30's. He has a round face with heavy eyebrows, and his brown hair is cut short. His UCAS fatigues show signs of age, with faded spots, and the identification removed. He pulls a large revolver from a holster on his hip, and puts two bullets into Officer Jackson at point blank range. It appears that she is dead before she hits the floor. Afterward, he points the gun at Steve, motioning for him to empty the register and his pockets.

After he takes a pitiful amount of cash from Steve, he disappears out the door.

[Chrome Head]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:37 PM, July 30th, 2075

"Do you have footage from other angles? From outside maybe?"

[Lobo0705]

Amy and Overkill, Stuffer Shack, 12:37 PM, July 30th, 2075

"I wish I did, miss, I wish I did. There is a camera outside the store, but it almost never stays in service. Sad to say, there are a group of annoying kids who like to use the parking lot as their own private hangout. Among their activities - besides loitering and general annoying the customers at night, they like to do drugs - mild ones, nothing heavy, otherwise the cops would be here to drive them off more often." He sighs, clearly frustrated.

"At any rate, I basically get the camera fixed, and then they break it again. Officer Jackson busted them last year, and they stayed away for a while, but then they've come back, and I didn't want to bother her again."