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

[PraetorGradivus]

O'Roarke's, CAS Zone, 4:25 PM, September 12, 2075

Sisco drives back to the bottling plant making unnecessary turns to see if they were being tailed.

"Hey Jack, what time do we figure on setting the meet for? I'd prefer after dark. Less chance they'd spot the doberman whever we hide it. Additionally, I figure we leave Mr T running... getting run over by a van is never good to one's constitution, if it comes to it.

[PraetorGradivus]

O'Roarke's, CAS Zone, 4:25 PM, September 12, 2075

Sisco drives back to the bottling plant making unnecessary turns to see if they were being tailed.

"Hey Jack, what time do we figure on setting the meet for? I'd prefer after dark. Less chance they'd spot the doberman whever we hide it. Additionally, I figure we leave Mr T running... getting run over by a van is never good to one's constitution, if it comes to it.

[Jack VII]

On the drive back to the Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 4:25 PM, September 12, 2075

"Makes sense, good idea. Probably set the meet for 2200? Not too late, but late enough that it'll be full dark." Jack responded as he checked through the gear Stone had sold them.

[Lobo0705]

On the drive back to the Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 4:25 PM, September 12, 2075

Huiquing had been following the conversation. "Very well. I will be happy to make the call. Shall I use my commlink? Or do you have a different one I can use to make the call?"

[Lobo0705]

On the drive back to the Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 4:25 PM, September 12, 2075

Hearing no dissent from the team, Huiquing turns on his commlink and sends out a quick message.

Shutting it off again, he says, "I have told him that the meeting is to be at the bottling plant at 10:00 PM."

Sisco hits the gas, heading back to the bottling plant, knowing that they have a lot they want to do in the next 5 hours.

[Lobo0705]

Bottling Plant CAS Zone 9:30 PM September 12 2075

The team had been busy over the last few hours, making preparations for the meet. Jack had resumed his role as team leader and planner, briefly outlining the details before grabbing the welder and heading over to the doors. As he fired up the welder and began sealing the entrances, Sisco piloted his Doberman out of Mr. T and positioning it near the north doors. Throwing an old tarp over part of it, and carefully concealing it with some cardboard boxes, he hoped to disguise its silhouette. Won't fool a scan, but it might keep it out of sight for a few seconds.

Mel took the opportunity to hack into Grease's drones, allowing her access to their sensor capability, and flying the Eyespy up onto the roof while keeping the Microskimmer inside the facility. Snap prepared herself mentally, her spirit on call to assist.

Huiquing spent the time in meditation, sitting silently in the upstairs office, not saying anything unless directly confronted.

With the doors welded shut, the drones in position, the team grabbed their gear and prepared themselves as best they could. Now there was nothing left to do but wait.

[Lobo0705]

Bottling Plant CAS Zone 9:45 September 12 2075

As the time for the meeting approached, Jack sent a quick message to Mel, <<@Mel [JustJack] its getting closer, better get our eyes in the air.>>

Mel quickly floated Grease's EyeSpy into an overwatch position around the facility, staying in AR to keep an eye on what was going on inside the plant as well.

Within a couple of minutes two SUV's turned down the road for the facility. Maintaining a speed of about 40kph, they stopped at the gate to bottling plant and two men got out of back of the lead SUV. Their appearance and bearing said "muscle" while their tailoring said "professional". They headed to the back of the SUV, and with minimal effort, grabbed a crawler from the back, depositing it on the ground. Following its lead, they left the two SUVs on the street, and began a quick sweep of the area, the drone slightly ahead of them.

[Melpomene]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:45PM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team [Melpomene] I'm tracking company. >>

Following that message, a direct link to the Flyspy's optics appears in the rest of the team's AR.

[Jack VII]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:45PM, September 12, 2075

Jack responded quickly.

<<@Team [JustJack] It's what we would do. I'm not too worried yet. Keep an eye on it. See if you can take it if necessary>>

[Lobo0705]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

The two men spend several minutes sweeping the parking lot, including moving off several of the SINless in the area after a quick pat down.

Finally, one makes a hand motion back to the SUVs and the two vehicles enter the parking lot. The doors open and a total of four other people exit. Two of them are virtually identical to the men who swept the parking lot, the remaining two look interesting. One is a powerfully built older Chinese man, his frame just starting to run slightly to fat, while the other is a slender, almost delicate woman, also Chinese. The man is dressed in a suit that costs what most people make in a month, while the woman is wearing a much more urban, modern look.

With the bulk of the SUV still in between the man and the building, the woman places a hand on his shoulder, and a nimbus of golden light surrounds him. Once she is satisfied with her work, she nods, and the four men take up a diamond formation around the two, crossing to the eastern door.

[Chrome Head]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

Watching the scene unfold in AR, Snap flinches as she regrets not having her eyes directly on that woman and what she's doing. <<@Team+Huiquing [Snap] She could have done it in the car, they wanted us to see that. If he comes in with magic support, I probably won't see clearly lies from truth unless they intentionally let me through. What's our play?>>

[Jack VII]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team [JustJack] Do what you can, we may have to rely on our own sense of things. I figure we'll know what they really intentar before we even sit down with them.>>

While the ork was somewhat uncomfortable, he had worked more than a few bodyguard jobs and remembered tense situations, similar to this. In most cases, it was much to do about nothing. Granted, it was the times that it was something that he remembered the most.

[PraetorGradivus]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone 2150, 12Sept2075

Well Uncle Morty, more mojo. But trying to separate the Triads from mojo is like trying to separate water from wet. Hopefully, Snap is up to the task.

[color="#00FFFF"]"Huānyíng zūnjìng de xiānshēng, fūrén. Wǒ bìxū dàoqiàn, dàn zhǐyǒu nǐ de liǎng gè hòuwèi kěyǐ jìnrù. Yīdàn jìnrù, liǎng míng hòuwèi jiāng liú zài wǒ hé nǐ kěyǐ shàng lóu dào bàngōngshì yǔ wǒ de tóngbàn, yǐ mǎnzú Huiquing."

[Lobo0705]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

Jack and Sisco wait tensely for the response. The elderly man turns to the woman, who closes her eyes. Jack and Sisco can both see her begin her spellcasting, the shimmering in the air visible even to their mundane eyes.

They shiver slightly as they as they feel a wave of magic pulse through them.

[Jack VII]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

Wincing at the magic spell, Jack barely kept himself from firing. He hoped Sisco would do the same. In his stilted Chinese, the ork warned, "Ràng wǒmen dàjiā dōu zhuānyè. Rúguǒ nǐ zài zhèyàng zuò méiyǒu rènhé jǐnggào, wǒmen jiāng pāishè."

The ork sent a message to the team. <<@Team [JustJack] I told them if they do that again without asking, we're shooting. Don't want for an order.>>

[Lobo0705]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

The four bodyguards raise their weapons at Jack's tone, but a harsh "Tíngzhǐ!" from the older man causes them to lower their guns slightly.

The mage turns to both and speaks in flawless English. "My apologies for the lack of warning. May I ask how many people await within?"

[Jack VII]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

Grateful the magic didn't seem to do anything to him, the ork nodded and replied, "All told, there are five of us, including our employer." Jack figured there was little reason to lie. After all, they were all pretty much out in the open, other than the drone. But Jack's experience with Grease's drones led him to believe that they were, at best, demonios rather than people. Reiterating the team's point and trying to build up a little good will, he said, "We'd appreciate it if two of your men stayed outside to keep watch on the grounds. With the threats against our employer, this may not be the safest place for any of us."

[Lobo0705]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

The woman raised an eyebrow at this and then spoke quickly and in hushed tones to her employer, translating Jack's words. She then said, "May I ask were the other two of you are then? I only detected one person inside the building besides the two of you."

[Jack VII]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

Figuring he had already gone full-in on honesty, Jack replied, "All three of our people inside are in the upstairs offices." The ork thought better of opining about how magic sometimes just doesn't work.

<<@Snap [JustJack] Head's up. I just told them you guys were upstairs. They seem a little spooked. But if they're going to try anything, especially more mojo, it's probably going to be now.>>

[Chrome Head]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

<<@JustJack [Snap] All right. Let me come join you in the welcome party, I better see what I'm up against before letting them in.>>

<<@Team [Snap] I'm going to escort our guests up rather than wait for them upstairs. I want to keep an eye on that woman.>>

"I'll be right back," she told her employer, and without waiting for a reply, the shaman hurried downstairs towards the door.

[Melpomene]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

Mel shook her head. Why does nothing go according to plan?

Moving very quickly, with her Viper in her right hand, and her deck slung over her left shoulder, Mel came out from her cover and out the door of the office. She knew Huiquing couldn't be left alone for very long. She could see Snap heading downstairs as she got to the other door. She went in and slightly bowed to Huiquing.

"It seems that I am your bodyguard now."

[Lobo0705]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

Snap made her way quickly to the front door, slowing down as she came closer so as to avoid spooking anyone. As she looked at the group with her astral vision, she saw the woman looking back at her. The bodyguards seemed tense, but the woman and the older man both seemed relatively relaxed. Certainly neither seemed on the brink of launching an attack.

The woman looked Snap up and down and said to Jack, "Ah, that explains some things." A brief exchange with her employer, and he nods in agreement. The woman points to two of the bodyguards and motions positions outside the building. "You may call me Amber, after you."

[Chrome Head]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:50 PM, September 12, 2075

Snap catches her breath in time before coming face to face with the other party and their mage, also acknowledging the two orks. "Hello, Amber," was all the shaman replied, not willing to give her anything.

It was implied that she was letting Jack handle the process of letting them in. As they make their way to Huiqing, she'd stay always a distance ahead, on the look-out for any unexpected use of magic. Soon she might see my spirit, she'll know I'm for real.

[Lobo0705]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:51 PM, September 12, 2075

Jack and Sisco step aside, and the two bodyguards enter first, and begin a brief visual sweep of the area immediately inside the door. After a moment, they wave their employer and Amber through, and they enter the building. Jack and Sisco walk them through the plant towards the stairs to the second floor. Both groups eye each other warily, waiting for any sign of betrayal.

They reach the stairs, and Amber turns to Jack and says, "Please do lead on."

[Jack VII]

Bottling Plant, CAS Zone, 9:51 PM, September 12, 2075

"Certainly," Jack replied pleasantly. "Our apologies that we didn't have time to clean up before you arrived. I'm sure you can appreciate that our employer has a timeline he would like to maintain."

Arriving at the stairs, Jack paused. "From here, my associate will stay down here with two of your men. The young lady and I will be coming upstairs. I'm sure you can understand that anyone in our situation would want to have some level of assurance that magic shouldn't be a concern. Additionally, I'll be joining you as I understand the language to some degree. We have one more associate upstairs who is currently with our employer. She will move to one of the adjacent offices once the conversation starts."

Concluding, Jack asked, "Does that sound acceptable?"