Nothing's Free in the Free Zone (IC), Adventure 2: A Dish Best Served Cold Options

[Melpomene]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:21 PM, September 11, 2075

<<@Team [Melpomene] Thank you, Jack. I'm seeing three maglocks and one sensor suite in the room. I can't spend much longer here...even with the codes, GOD is watching me for my transgressions, successful as they may be. I'll get you as much intel as I can, but I don't want to spook the target before you ever set foot on the premises. >>

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:21 PM, September 11, 2075

Jack responded quickly. He didn't quite understand what GOD was, but it certainly didn't sound good.

<<@Team [JustJack] Sounds good, Mel. I think the goal here is to figure out what we're going up against. The last bit of information we're going to need for the artifact room is what type of sensor suite is in there. Maglocks are maglocks, but that sensor suite could be anything. Once you get that, clear out. Are you going to be able to get in again?>>

[Melpomene]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:21 PM, September 11, 2075

<<@Team [Melpomene] Sensor suite in the Artifact Room is equipped with ultrasonic, motion detect, O-D mic, as well as a camera with thermo and low light. Alright, I'm out. I didn't pique any interest from the locals, so the codes Chapel gave us are pristine. No problem getting back in. See you on the meat-side.>>

Straightening her suit one more time, Mel took one last look, then typed the relevant codes into her dataslate. Her viewpoint switched as she reverted from VR to AR.

Mel's eyes fluttered open as she watched the link stats roll past her integral image link. She eased out of the Matrix and sat up. She looked down and straightened her jumpsuit, smiling. She looked up at Jack and Snap. "That host was much too friggin' corporate. Somebody likes order a bit too much." Leaning forward, she peered out the window.

[Chrome Head]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:21 PM, September 11, 2075

Once again, Snap searches for an ancient soul to force into temporary servitude. She was always respectful with the astral beings, treating them as more than mere servants, but at the same time, she needed immediate and complete obedience from them, or else she'd lose her grip. Knowing that spirits can sometimes grow annoyed with ungrateful summoners, she chose to make an offering this time, to show her appreciation and good will towards them. She would likely have to summon even more of them this very night.

Her efforts were quickly rewarded, and a spirit in the shape of an over-sized child appeared to her in the astral plane. "I appreciate your gift, mistress. How may I be of service to you?"

The shaman wanted to go deeper into the scouting of the house, and asked the spirit to explore what the previous one couldn't reach. "Inside the large house on this property is a ward, supposedly sealing off the second floor. I want you to try to pass through that ward without breaking it, and report about what you find inside of it. Assense the space there, and all auras that may be present. Avoid detection if you can. Your help means a lot to me, now go and good luck!"

With that Snap watched as the spirit flew away and disappeared behind the high walls.

[Melpomene]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:23 PM, September 11, 2075

As Jack and Snap conducted their recon, Mel listened in. She caught snippets of data from the drones feeding back to Jack. He looked over his shoulder to her.

"Mel, can you ID the two cameras at the entrances to the house?"

Mel nodded. "Yeah, no prob. Gimmee forty seconds."

She sat back in the cushioned chair and blink-clicked her datajack, hot-simming back in. With the codes, she entered the building again. She immediately started sifting through the camera icons, narrowed them down, then ID'ed them.

<<@Team [Melpomene] ARO feeds coming in...here are your two cameras.>>

Over AR, there are two camera feeds...one with the angle of the east entrance, one from the garage.

[Chrome Head]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:23 PM, September 11, 2075

The large child communicates with his summoner, a bit sheepishly. "I didn't manage to go through the ward, even if I gave it my best. Good luck and farewell."

Well that's too bad. He was a happy fellow though, maybe I should offer gifts more often, I'll get better service. Snap smiled at the pun in her internal monologue.

<<@Team [Snap] I got a couple of spirits to scout the house in astral space for me. I don't have much to report back about it. There's 2 people on the ground floor and 6 in the basement of the house. The second floor is entirely warded, a pretty strong ward I'm guessing, though I won't have any problem crossing it myself.>>

[DrZaius]

O'Roarke's, CAS Zone, 10:25 PM, September 11, 2075

The dwarf scratches his chin. "The cases I can do, but as far as fireworks go- that's not something I can arrange tonight. I just sold my last set earlier tonight, no new shipment for a few days."

The elf shrugs. "Well, whatever you can do. The faster the better. I'll let you work." Stone nods, and takes a call, turning away from Grease and tipping his finger against his hat.

Well, that's no good. I can almost buy those things myself. Might as well let the rest of them know..

<<@Team [Grease]: No dice on any firecrackers. We should have decent transport for items in a few hours. Not much decent skuttlebutt as far as I can tell; mostly that the Triads are having some internal conflict, between the White Lotus and the Golden Triangle. That, and the cops are playing it straight for the time being since they just got a new boss; something to keep in mind in case we need to bribe anyone. I'll keep working here; let me know if there's anything in particular you want me to ask about. I can pretty much get these guys to tell me their SIN if I buy a few more rounds.>>

Sighing, he turned his smile back on as he reapproached the bar.

Unappreciated in my time..

[Melpomene]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:25 PM, September 11, 2075

<<@Team [Melpomene] Do we need more than three flash-bangs? I currently have three on my lap right now, along with three flash-paks.>>

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:26 PM, September 11, 2075

Jack considered the floor plans as well as the camera feeds Mel managed to hack. Staring at the AROs of the floor plans for a minute or two, Jack made two copies of the map and edited the two files, creating two potential plans. Chuckling as Mel's message came through, Jack replied and attached the AROs.

<<@Team [JustJack] In my experience, you can never have enough Flash-Bangs. With that said, I've attached two files to this message with possible plans for this job. Plan A is pretty straight forward but is probably the most obvious. Plan B involves a little climbing, but the only time we'd go inside the house is to enter the room with our targets. Thoughts?>>

[DrZaius]

O'Roarke's, CAS Zone, 10:25 PM, September 11, 2075

Pretending to listen intently to a conversation he wished he could end, Grease nodded like a parrot at the patrons of the bar who were telling him, 'Why yes, they did have a few opinions on small Government...'

<<@Team [Grease] My 2 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) ; I like plan B better. Their security is going to be setup for ground level threats, and they think their wide-open green spaces are going to stop anyone from sneaking up on the place. Snap can get you to sneak up without being seen easily. Plus, there's a camera on the room you're thinking of entering- probably easier to hack a camera than a maglock. Maglocks tend to log when people have used them; the fewer doors we can avoid going through, the better. Even if we have Mr. H's commcode, he doesn't have any reason being in the artifact room at 4 AM; that might trigger an alert all on it's own.>>

[Chrome Head]

O'Roarke's, CAS Zone, 10:25 PM, September 11, 2075

Snap wasn't the best planner out there but she wanted to contribute something. So she tried visualizing how things could go down as she was looking at the two options laid out in AR. She imagined sneakiing up to the house like Grease was suggesting, and then having someone climb up and retrieve the precious objects, but one thing worried her. What would be the exit strategy when the drek hits the fan?

<<@Team [Snap] I don't mind either plan. Grease, I like what you're saying, that they won't expect someone coming in straight at the second floor. What I have trouble figuring out is what we'll do once we get found out. If there's an alarm, a firefight, guns blazing, and we have to get the frag out. How do we do that? It's really far from the road, and my spirits can't make any of us fly, sadly.>>

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:26 PM, September 11, 2075

Jack pondered their dilemma. He wasn't really sure about the suggestion that he go in alone. It had worked fine at the Free Zone Couriers depot, but the area had been relatively small and they had only faced two poorly trained guards. Huiquing's estate was massive and they knew there were many more guards.

<<@Team [JustJack] Alright, so whether we go with A or B probably doesn't matter just at the moment. Like Snap said, we still need to figure out how we're getting to and from the building across the open ground. Invisibility worked pretty well last time, we could probably do that again, especially if we tack on Matrix support. Those spells don't work on a lot of sensors, right? As far as huyendo when the drek hits the fan, does anyone have smoke grenades? We could set a few for remote detonating on our way to the house. If we don't have to use them, we can gather them on our way back.>>

[Chrome Head]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:26 PM, September 11, 2075

Snap was worried for her friend. Are we about to send Jack on this crazy run all by himself!?

<<@Team [Snap] Yeah my illusions don't affect cameras and drones at all, just the minds of living onlookers. I think I should come along with Jack, though if we go into the house together, we need to use Plan A, because I don't think I can climb quickly up and down a vertical wall. >>

[Melpomene]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:26 PM, September 11, 2075

<<@Team [Melpomene] don't think Jack should go in alone either. The muscle is too big...something goes awry and Jack is dead. Also, Grease, it's easier to spoof a maglock than a camera. The camera is ALWAYS looking...you have to time your interference so what you don't want the cam to see is past in three seconds. Maglocks are just on/off. Just reset it, it opens, then it locks, and doesn't know what happened.

My opinion...Plan A with Jack and Snap (along with one or more spirits) go in. I stay in the car running the Matrix, Grease in the car as emergency backup in case.>>

[DrZaius]

O'Roarke's, CAS Zone, 10:26 PM, September 11, 2075

Feeling isolated from the rest of the group, Grease tried to contribute more to the plan.

<<@Team [Grease]: I'll defer to you on all the matrix stuff Mel. So if Snap's spell doesn't effect living things, can we sneak up effectively on the house? It'll be dark, but we probably have to assume they have IR sensors. If Mel can hack a hole in their external camera net we can sneak up across the grounds. I'm not there so I'll go with what y'all are seeing.

Could Rhex get in? I could park him on the other side of the complex in case we need a loud distraction while we're bugging out. I could come along to try and boost a ride, but that's not my area of expertise. We really need to try to keep this quiet; our hired van isn't on board with a combat exit; at least not for what we're paying him. Maybe the three of us go, with Mel as matrix support in VR? I can't lift much but I can point a gun.

Could we combine the two plans? Maybe have Snap and me go in downstairs while Jack climbs up? I don't know if that's spreading Mel too thin. Or I could VR Rhex from the van with Mel for maximum fire support. I just won't be as quiet, and stairs can be an issue. We could come up with a saddlebag solution on Rhex to transport the goods in a hurry. I'm just spitballing here, seeing what sticks. The only other thing I can think of is us driving up to the door with some story.>>

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:26 PM, September 11, 2075

<<@Team [JustJack] I think it's an either/or thing with the plans. The whole point of Plan B is to avoid most of the security inside of the house. If we're going to deal with that anyway, no real need for it, other than as a possible escape route. I really think we need a minimum of a three-person team here to cover physical, matrix, and magical security. Not everyone has to go inside the artifact room, but at least get closer to the target to deal with anything we haven't considered. For now, I think we need to figure out how to get to the house. There's a lot of ground to cover.>>

Jack sent the roaming FlySpy instructions to slowly trace a route from the house to his location, using its ultrasound to detect motion detector fields and avoid them while using its radio signal scanner to attempt to spot other hidden devices along the way.

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:30 PM, September 11, 2075

As the FlySpy made its way across the yard, Jack marked the overhead ARO of the estate with an additional ARO, indicating the probable location of the motion sensor on the lawn. Considering the map, the ork still wasn't pleased. Not enough información...

Nudging Mel, Jack asked, "Can you take one more trip into the Host? I'd like you to take a look at all of the slaved sensor arrays and determine their functions. I don't think we need to know locations necessarily, but it would be helpful to know their capabilities."

[Melpomene]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:30 PM, September 11, 2075

Nudging Mel, Jack asked, "Can you take one more trip into the Host? I'd like you to take a look at all of the slaved sensor arrays and determine their functions. I don't think we need to know locations necessarily, but it would be helpful to know their capabilities."

Mel nods and jacks back in. About ten seconds later...

<<@Team [Melpomene] I got two sensor arrays in line with our path to the house. They're equipped with Motion, Ultrasound, Camera w/lowlight and thermo, MAD Scanner, and OD mic.>>

[Chrome Head]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:30 PM, September 11, 2075

Snap hated waiting while doing nothing so she decided that it would be a good time to put to use the many reagents that she had bought in preparation for the next run that she would get. Hopefully it would be more effective than when she had attempted binding in her downtime.

<<@Stone [Snap] Heya Stone, I need a room that I can rent for about 4 hours. I don't need much space, but I'd like it to be quiet. Somewhere in Chinatown if possible. Think you can hook me up?>>

<<@Team [Snap's voice] I just asked Stone for a place where I could perform what hermetics call the binding of a spirit. I wish I'd have a better word for it myself. Anyway, I think it will be useful for the job we have to do. It will take me about 4 hours to form the strong link between me and the spirit. I'll let you know when I hear back from Stone, but I'll need a lift.>>

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 10:40 PM, September 11, 2075

<<@Team [Snap's voice] Stone set me up with a room about 15 minutes away. I'll ask Sisco to drive me there. [coordinates attached] >>

[Lobo0705]

Heaven's Rest, CAS Zone, 10:45 PM, September 11, 2075

Sisco drove through the streets of Chinatown slowly. The residential areas, similar to most of the rest of the FRFZ were quiet and well maintained. The area that Heaven's Rest was in, however, was a riot of activity and color. Even at 10:45 the street vendors were out plying their trade, and the physical and AR versions of their advertising were an assault to the senses.

The team is glad of the anonymity provided by the van, as they look out across the sea of faces and see that non-Chinese are at a minimum. Jack feels especially isolated, as not a single ork is anywhere to be seen amid the throng.

Eventually Sisco slows even further, looks back and says, "This is your stop. Do you want me to wait here?" The building looks like a early 21st century construction, covered with 13th century decor. The van grinds to a halt in an alley behind the building, next to a small door marked "Service".

[Chrome Head]

Heaven's Rest, CAS Zone, 10:45 PM, September 11, 2075

"No, I should be here for a while."

Snap hops out of the van and into the sea of Asian sixth worlders. Towering over many of them, she felt a little uneasy, and hurried into the coffin hotel.

[Lobo0705]

Heaven's Rest, CAS Zone, 10:46 PM, September 11, 2075

Snap enters the back door, walking down a short hallway and passing through a doorway with only beaded curtains separating the rooms. Her way is barred by another doorway, this time with a real security door in the frame. A camera peers down at her, and a voice from a speaker near the doorway speaks, the accent heavily Chinese. "Hello, what you want?"

Snap looks up at the camera, "I need a room, we have a mutual friend who arranged it."

The speaker goes silent for a moment, and the door buzzes. Snap tests the handle and finds it opens easily. The speaker comes to life again, "Take first left, upstairs, room 27."

Snap walks cautiously up the stairs, turning left at the door. The smell of spice and incense is heavy, but not unpleasant. She opens the door marked 37 and enters a small, cubicle-like room with no window.

The bed is small, barely long enough to accommodate her slim frame, and there is no closet. However, despite being tiny, the room seems well-maintained, the walls looking recently painted and the floor stain-free.

[Lobo0705]

O'Roarke's, CAS Zone, 12:05 AM, September 12, 2075

After two hours of listening to the local yahoos, Grease was about ready to call it a night. He had been nursing his drinks while liberally spreading his 'yen around buying for others, but even so he was starting to feel it, and the last thing he needed was to be impaired before the run.

He had pulled his drones after Sisco had taken the rest of the team to the coffin motel, figuring it would be safer than leaving them over the target area. He noted with interest as someone came in to the bar and handed a small package to Jack's contact. Looks like at least one of our toys made it here.

Shaking his head slightly to clear it, he took a deep breath and prepared to contact the team with what he had learned.

[Chrome Head]

Heaven's Rest, CAS Zone, 10:47 PM, September 11, 2075

Snap sits on the bed with folded knees. She closes her eyes and prepares mentally for summoning a spirit attuned to Man and Civilization. Reaching out to the metaplanes, she finds an ancient soul of the native Arapaho people who once lived in the region. The spirit immediately appears in front of her in astral space, looking grim. Snap immediately knows that this one used to be a warrior and a messenger. He is capable of reaching great speeds, and the spirit has a special affinity with making movement an easier task for others as well.

"Welcome, Hosah. Thanks for answering my call tonight."

"At your service. How may I best serve you?"

"Oh I don't need anything from you right now, spirit of the ancestors. But, I hope that you don't mind if I try to convince you to remain in my service in a more... permanent manner."

"I do not wish to remain on this plane of existence for more than one night, lady."

"I know you don't. Thankfully I have brought with me an offering. We will see if I can change your mind. We will be friends in time, Hosah."

Smiling, the shaman adds, "and you can call me Amy."

Snap meditates peacefully as Hubert has shown her, as she begins the long process of binding a spirit. Taking long, deep breaths, she engages in communion with the spirit.

[Melpomene]

Sisco's Van, CAS Zone, 10:48 PM, September 11, 2075

Mel was multi-tasking again. She was in hot-sim, drifting through the Matrix, enjoying the freedom the experience gave her. She was nervous...nervous about going in...she was always more confident with her Matrix-side versus her meat-side, but rationally she knew she COULD do it...she just had to calm the jitters.

Her avatar moved with purpose from host to host, basically "window-shopping"...Mel didn't attempt any MARKs or anything...her simsense flooded with sights, sounds, smells, etc. At the same time, she had her integral music player clicked on...Bach's Cantata No. 82 soothing her mind almost unconsciously. Lastly, she set up a macro to collate all of the information on the Huiquing estate, matching and cross-referencing maps and descriptions so that there would be no confusion when the time came to put all that info to use.