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

[Chrome Head]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team [Snap] We should capture or even kill Huiqing and get out. It's not safe now, but that doesn't stop us from coming back for the art later. Maybe we can even ransom Huiqing for his artefacts?>>

[Melpomene]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team [Melpomene] I think ransoming is rife with peril...we're in a foreign zone, low on supply, beat up, and then taking hostage a powerful gang leader? My opinion is the risk far outweighs the payout.>>

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team [JustJack] What if we just take him hostage temporarily? The job was to snatch some stuff. It's going to be a lot harder now, but we could still try to finish it with Huiquing as our ace in the hole if the drek hits the fan. Split the team, two to go in to the house and two to maintain our leverage? I don't like the idea of splitting up, but we definitely can't drag him along with us if we still want to get the premio.>>

[Chrome Head]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

Good, maybe I'll have a chance to get some rest soon, Snap thought through the ongoing headache.

<<@Team [Snap] So we agree. Let's take him, get out of here, and then figure out exactly what we want to do from there. Someone needs to make sure he's not emitting some kind of tracking signal when we get a chance.>>

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

Jack scratched his head in confusion.

<<@Team [JustJack] Actually, I think if we leave now, we're not going to get another shot at the goods. I doubt they'll send them to auction without their owner. But, if we do go for it now, we may have some cover holding Huiquing as a hostage. Here's a thought: Mel and I take a shot at the house under Plan B, maybe accompanied by one of Snap's spirits. Snap and Sisco hang out here or back at the van and keep Huiquing under the gun. If drek goes sideways, we use Huiquing as leverage to get out of here. That or just put two in him right now and head back to the UCAS.>>

[Lobo0705]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

As this exchange went on between the team, Huiquing staggered upt to Sisco, grabbing the ork by the edges of his lapel.

"Nǐ bìxū ràng wǒ líkāi zhèlǐ. Wǒ huì fù gěi nǐ, dàn wǒmen bùnéng liú!" His eyes a little clearer, he still was staggering, the debilitating effects of the Stick 'n Shock still quite evident.

Seeing Sisco processing what he said, he continued, "Mìngmíng nín de jiàgé, dàn ràng wǒ líkāi zhèlǐ!"

[PraetorGradivus]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

Sisco thinks about it for a whole 2 seconds.
<<@Team [Sisco] He's offering us a lot of money to rescue him. This is blown. I'm taking him back to Mr. T and salvage some money from this deal.>>

To Huiquing Sisco says, "Zhè biān zǒu, kě jìng de xiānshēng. Wǒmen huì bǎohù nǐ de ānquán."

Nothing ever goes right. How did that song that Uncle Morty always used to listen to from back in the day go: If you can't get what you want, sometimes you get what you need. Or something like that. Good advice, I'd say.

[Chrome Head]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team[Snap] He's begging us to leave with him? Okay, done! Let's get out of here. >>

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

Jack looked off toward the house and scowled. No es de extrañar After a second, he shrugged and sent a reply.

<<@Team [JustJack] Well, I guess I'm covering the retreat then. Let's get back to the van.>>

Jack recalled the microskimmer to his position and picked it up, depositing it in one of his pockets.

[Melpomene]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team [Melpomene] So are we rescuing him, or killing him? Or both?>>

[PraetorGradivus]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team [Melpomene] So are we rescuing him, or killing him? Or both?>>

Good question Yankee. Drek. Drek. Drek. What would Uncle Morty say to this one:"We're honest criminals. Never take money from both sides. Pick one and screw the other. That's business. Screw both sides and you just get yourself a bad rep if not outright dead." You're right as usual Uncle Morty.


<<@Team [Sisco] Look Yanks, I'm not comfortable with both. Let's just say I'm an honest criminal. My vote is that we either take his money to rescue him or hose him.>>

Hopefully, I didn't just didn't alienate everyone. But that's life.

Sisco begins to lead Huiquing back towards the wall closest to MR. T.

[Chrome Head]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

<< @Team[Snap] Take him alive and negotiate. I have no love for the man, but I want to hear what he's got to offer. I can read his intentions, whether he's telling us the truth. And I don't mean body language. So we'll know right away if we can trust him. >>

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

With security and/or a hit team almost certainly triangulating their position, Jack sends his last thoughts on the matter.

<<@Team [JustJack] We don't have time to negotiate here. We take him back to the van and then decide what to do with him once we're clear. If anyone's opposed, I'm just going to put three rounds in Huiquing right here to settle it. We need to move now.>>

Jack shifts his position slightly so that his SMG is aimed directly at Huiquing.

[PraetorGradivus]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

I should give that Yank the Bird but he'd probably shoot this White Paper Fan for spite and then we'd have to go after the artwork to make any money. Fat chance on that.


<<@Team[Sisco] I'm hustling him to the wall but one of the spirits is gonna have to carry him over after I climb over.>>

Sisco gives JustJack the fullest teeth smile he got.

He can make of it what he wants. But I got to hand it to the Yank; he got some big shiny brass ones.

[Chrome Head]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

<< @Team [Snap] Yeah that's what I mean, negotiate later. And sure I can ask the spirit to take Huiqing over the wall when we're there. >>

We should really get moving now.

<< @Team [Snap] Hurry. Let's go. >>

[Melpomene]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

Wow. What a complete cee-eff. Instead of a simple smash and grab, we've inserted ourselves directly into a turf war between the White Lotus and God-knows who else. We're all dead.

<<@Team [Melpomene] We're in enemy territory and attempting to ransom a mob boss on the fly. Also, if we cut a deal with him, we are essentially cutting our fixer completely out. He doesn't get the artifacts, and he doesn't get Huiquing's head. We fail our client, and we fail our fixer. Also, we make ourselves targets to whoever was trying to grab Huiquing in the first place.

I say we get him over the wall, and kill him then. Then run like Hell.>>

[Chrome Head]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

Ok, everyone at least agrees on running towards the wall. Snap being pretty slow compared to the rest of the team, despite being an elf, she begins running, while keeping up the discussion on the move.

<< @Team[Snap] I'm actually hoping that we can get the artifacts in exchange for his life, and everyone is happy. If we can make a little extra on the side that's fine too. And if there's more money to be made from a ransom, we can still give our fixer his cut. It's fair game. Only the Johnson is mad, but that's life. It all depends on what Huiqing can make happen for us. If we don't like it, there's a price on his head anyway. >>

[PraetorGradivus]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:57 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team[Sisco] I'm ok with that plan but maybe we should contact the fixer and see if he wants the package whole. Might be worth more money that way. Or not. You guys make the call.>>

[Lobo0705]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:58 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team [JustJack] Well, lets go if we are going. Move!>>

Snap has already begun moving, the small elf doing the best she can over the uneven terrain. Mel was next to go, hard on Snap's heels, trying to monitor the AR feed around her and run at the same time.

Sisco followed, staying a step behind and to the right of Huiquing, who was puffing like a bellows. I guess being top-dog in the Triads doesn't require you to do much cardio. At this rate I'm going to have to carry him the last 100 yards.

Jack waited for 10 seconds, sweeping the grounds from one side to the other, and then displaced, sprinting 50 meters and then dropping to a firing crouch, searching for targets. Seeing none, he displaced again. The rest of the team was slowly outstripping him, and after a few more displacements, they were perhaps halfway back to the wall.

About a minute and half had passed since the first shots, and Jack could see movement at the front of the house, several hundred yards away. There looked to be three men, talking and gesturing, although he could not make out what was being said. One of them moved over to where Hao Fe had fallen, and two shots rang out. The Triad member, his gun barrel glowing red in Jack's thermographic vision, motioned to the others. They began to move out, spread out about 15 meters apart, trotting toward the team's last location.

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:58 AM, September 12, 2075

Frowning at the ruthless efficiency of the uninvited guests who had ruined their evening, Jack sent a message to the team.

<<@Team [JustJack] Three contacts heading in our general direction at speed. No idea if they know where we are, but they just capped Hao Fe, from what I can tell, so they aren't playing around.>>

[PraetorGradivus]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:58 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team[Sisco] I think Mel and Snap can handle Huiquing by themselves. Jack, do you need help with the rearguard?>>

Our Paper Fan seems to have seriously whizzed in somebody's soy-graham cereal. Wait a minute, the Yank said they capped Hao Fe. probably means they killed all of the Paper Fan's security. What did Uncle Morty always say. Yeah, yeah. "Like stealing candy from a baby."

<<@Team[Sisco] You know, they probably double tapped all of Huiquing's security. If there's only three guys left we could try laying ambush while Mel babysits Huiquing. We might still be able to get the items. Even if we don't want to try the house, it might be a good idea to end these motherfraggers.>>

[Melpomene]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:58 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team [Melpomene] They may not know about us...an ambush could be effective. I can watch Huiquing if need be. If we cut these guys down, we may even be able to get back in the house...especially with this guy's help.>>

[Jack VII]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:58 AM, September 12, 2075

Jack cursed softly. If they were going to take the house, they should have done it when they were closer to it, not when they were almost at the extraction point.

<<@Team [JustJack] No way to know if it's only three of them. Considering we knew for sure there were at least six other guards before Huiquing and his crew showed up, I doubt there are only three guys involved. Let's get to the wall, then maybe we can think about setting up an ambush. If we shoot at them now, we're all going to be caught out in the open with no option for escape if they have allies.>>

[PraetorGradivus]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:58 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team[Sisco] Ok, we continue to the extraction point. Keep us updated Jack.>>

[Lobo0705]

Chen Huiquing's Estate, CAS Zone, 4:59 AM, September 12, 2075

The team continued to move toward the wall, Sisco and Huiquing lagging slightly behind Snap, and Mel taking point. Crossing over a gentle roll in the ground, they could see the wall barely 50 meters ahead.

Jack was falling farther and farther behind, and the trio of Triad members were picking up their pace. They had reached the spot where the team had fought the drones, and had barely slowed before they began heading along the teams trail.

Mierda. Keeping low, he ran as fast as he could to catch up with the rest of the team. He could see them reach the wall when he was still about 100 meters away from them. The Triads were about 150 meters behind him, and had been gaining rapidly.