Tangled Currents - DES, Stormy Waters subthread Options

[Jack_Spade]

Thursday, 21 November, 14:30; somewhere in Southwest Renton, Seattle Metroplex

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Restart Protocol.......Successful
Firewall...............Online....
System Integrity.......100%......
Alignment..............Successful
Unread Messages........2.........

John blinked. At least it felt like blinking. One second he was aware of his maintenance drone doing its thing on his chassis and the next it was six hours later. His body showed no error messages and according to the repair log a faulty contact on his chin actuator had been resoldered. John moved his head slowly from left to right and up and down. Smooth and easy. He activated smile no.3 - excellent.

He opened the two messages.
The first one was a demand from the Koreans: "We want your report. Get back to us ASAPOIYA"
He ignored it for the moment, because the second message was from an unknown link: "Meet your colleagues: 38th Avenue NE - be nice!"

Great. No names, no passwords... he took a quick look at his bank account... but at least half the agreed sum had been transferred. That had to be enough. Unsure about what would come next, he packed his gear into the special compartment beneath the driver seat and navigated the Morgan through the relatively mild afternoon traffic.

[DireRadiant]

Thursday, 21 November, 01:45; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

DES spoke up, "We make one place insecure in a way that does not look like they are targeted, then they must use other location."

DES tried to focus on what happens next but he just couldn't. Red Otter wouldn't let him.

[adamu]

Thursday, 21 November, 01:45; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

D-Pop smiled with the appreciation of a connoisseur - delighted but in no way surprised.

"I think you've cut the Gordian Knot, my Warrior. Any other thoughts? Or specific ideas on how we might implement DES's ploy? And of course the timing would have to be right, and we're still in the dark on that..."

[mister__joshua]

Jan
Thursday, 21 November, 01:45; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Jan was looking around furtively. He still didn't like this place much.

When he spoke, he wasn't really listening to the way the conversation was going. "I'm an insomniac with a sleep regulator" he said, somewhat out of the blue. "Give me 3 hours to sleep and I'll be good for 2 days. I can keep watch til you're all recovered." He preferred to do it himself anyway.

[Raiderj]

"Kid! I really gotta talk to you its important! Vexboy ignores it. "Well Im fine. I could probably try and cook something simple if you all like."

[DireRadiant]

Thursday, 21 November, 01:45; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

DES struggled to speak, controlled himself and quietly issued his thought, "We must perform the Hunt in the same ways it is always done. A Blind. Set downwind where we will not disturb the prey as it comes to it's watering hole. Hidden and made to look as it belongs. We make or find one and then we wait."

This too was something DES reflected he had not done with any other company than the Wind since Red Otter took his step off the mountains.

[JDragon]

Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

As promised Rocky had waited till he was a few blocks from the Green River Inn before he had made the call for a cab to head for the address in Tacoma Daphne had given him. Once he had given the cabbie an address at the end of the block from the safe house Rocky started working on other things before he forgot. He sent a quick message to Hack'ed to cover the dismissal by Daphne and arrange access to some cash he had stashed away for a rainy day.

::19:00:: Hack'ed :: Thanks for the help. Better you are in the dark on this chummer. I'm going to need access to my funds from the UO job, normal transfer ::

After he had sent the message he'd shut down his 'link and thought about what Daphne had told him. It wasn't his normal gig, but sounded like if he survived it would be good for his karma pool.

As usual Rocky had started heading away from the safe house when he climbed out of the cab and didn't change directions till it was out of sight. The walk down the street hadn't taken more than a couple minutes and he was now standing out on the street in front of the address Daphne had given him.

Not seeing anyone outside and not having any passwords he headed for the door and knocked, like any other normal visitor would do.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

[Jack_Spade]

Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

John had parked across the street of the given address, observing. After the last two adventures he took his time to ensure it was no trap. His laser microphone caught some small pieces of conversation - not enough to know what was going on in there, but good enough to know that more than four persons were inside.

He was just about to call it a day and go in there, when he noticed the troll walking towards the front door and knock.
Carefully, John opened the car door and stepped outside. The temperature had dropped and he was acutely aware that he didn't produce any visible exhalation. With quick, quiet strides he closed in on the house, a friendly grin (no.2) on his face, hoping to time his arrival with the opening of the door.

He was almost on top of the Troll when he whirled around.
John stopped and said: "Hi, nice night for some Korean Kicking..."

[Raiderj]

“Okay kid. You asked for it.” Vexboy suddenly turned visibly red. He began to sweat and shiver. “I… I… need a moment…” He went into the bathroom. He washed his face. He looked up into the mirror and noticed… behind him wasn't there anymore. Instead was a wall of bricks in a dimly lit room. He looked forward and saw a hall of paintings. “Wanted to give you a proper send off… Hey remember how we met?” Vexboy looked at his commlink. “No signal."

He looked at a painting nearby. It was of him reading his parents collection of 5th world paperbacks. He smiled. His eyes were hazel back then. “I wanted to be Samwise the brave when I was little.” He started to look at the other paintings. Some were of happy times. Some were of dark times. He stopped at one. He remembered it vividly and smiled. It was him crying and being contacted by the Dragonslayer. His awakening. He smiled and looked at another. Of the day after. “This was the day I used my first stage of improved reflexes… and the killing hands trick…” The Dragonslayer sighed. “Yeah. That kid was shocked when the bruise started bleeding huh?” There was one of him getting kicked out of a car by his parents. Vexboy scoffed and chuckled. “Jokes on them. Im fine now.” He looked at another of him mastering Wall Running. “The first trick you taught me!” Vexboy said happily.

He went onwards… but slower. There was one of his first kill. Vexboy had to stop here. The 8 year old him was in tears… holding that Streetline Special. Vexboy pulled it out and stared at it. He couldn't think of anything to say. He had moved on. Then the next one was one of him sleeping next to his sister Jessica. “Yeah we shared that first night.” Vexboy said. “It was shady as heck. I can safely say though this is one of the few times I was wrong on something.” Vexboy started to notice his feet becoming heavier. “Whats going on?” The Dragonslayer chuckled. “The Weight of Life. As you all walk down the hall of life it weighs you down. Each step is heavier then the last. Life is funny that way. But it gets better.”

Vexboy started to turn around but found the wall had followed him the paintings gone. “Each moment is a work of art honoring the impact on life. Remember that Pattern Stuff? Well guess what kid? Every painting in the hall was a tiny tiny tiny impact on the pattern. Your Pattern. Life is an adventure... Each painting is a great moment. But they vanish. Each moment can only be a memory after they happen. Each moment is gone. Each moment weighs you down for the emotions, the actions, who you are… die. And you know what they say about DEAD WEIGHT.”

Vexboy looked at his feet and saw corpses of himself pulling on his ankles. He shook in horror. “You didn't just kill others. You kill yourself. Everyday a new Vincent is born. The old one dies. Some Vincents share core characteristics. These painting are when the core of you… your very essence changes. This is your challenge. Look at all the paintings and make it to the door at the end of the hall.” Vexboy nodded and his eyes flared yellow. “Gladly. I don't know what the hell is going on… but…” He took a slow step forward. “I intend to win!” Vexboy saw a painting of him becoming a formal,detective. Receiving his badge. A new corpse on his body. One of him running from an orc with a cyberarm turned sawblade. Vexboys legs were both pulled by corpses of himself. He visibly struggled but maintained a steady pace. One of him noticing his new Low Light Yellow Eyes as he brushed his teeth. Another corpse grabbed his waist.

One of him finding Noodlepost for the first time and meeting Drillbit. One of him meeting Astral after a bit of street vigilantism while she flirted and patched up Jessica. One of him meeting Mr Mouse. One of him meeting Rico. One of him getting his Foci from Lore. He could barely move dragged on by many corpses. One of him getting that poster of Kane in the mail after hearing his story and being introduced to the idea of Shadowrunning on Noodlepost. One of him getting fired… one of him on the bed...being told by the Dragonslayer to become a runner.

One of him and Jessica hugging after she told him she didn’t care what he did with his life. One of him talking with Mr Mouse… one of him meeting Facemaker John… one of him entering the house he was in now. He,made it to the door. He could barely move. He struggled. He could barely move. But he did…open the door. He noticed behind the door. He was looking at the otherside of the mirror. “Your first initiation.” The Dragonslayer said. In the paintng Vexboy saw a large knight. He was clad in dull grey armor with a spiked kite shield and a large axe. He had the severed skull of a horned dragon on his back.

Vexboy was on the other side of the mirror…he felt…AMAZING.
He came back. He looked hale and healthy. "Hey...how long was I gone for?"

[JDragon]

Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

KNOCK! KNOCK!

As Rocky's hand was hitting the door the second time he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Having had a long day of people trying to kill his friends, roughing up his boss and shooting at him his first reaction was to attack, so that’s what he did.

Spinning as quickly as he could and not lose his balance on the porch that was designed for people half his size he swung at the figure that had come up on him. The human sized figure was saying something as he came to a stop and Rocky's fist was arching for his head.

"Hi, nice night for some Korean Kicking..."

It was too late for Rocky to stop and he wasn't really inclined to anyways. But the guy was ready and easily ducked the boxer's swing and came back up still smiling, which brought Rocky up short and gave him a second to process what the man had said.

"What!?!" "Who the frag are you and why were you trying to sneak up on me?"

[Vegas]

Thursday, 21 November, 01:43; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

She had been slightly surprised to find that D Pop and Bronwyn hadn’t dug deeper into her beyond the cursory and that they only knew her cover identity, for the time being at least. She shook her head at the offer and looked the woman in the eyes. If trust from her was what D Pop was asking for, Rave would have to ask for it in return.

“My friends all call me Rave.”

She didn’t let the name of the young boy go unnoticed and added it to the mental check list she had tallied of things to cautiously look into when given the time. She had a feeling she could look into it with KE resources, but she also heeded D Pop’s warning that various people up and down the food chain at work could be aiding and abetting and working in concert against her.

She slid her toes back into the platform heels and strapped them tight around her ankles once more as she decided based on D Pop’s concern that they all keep the next 48 hours compartmentalized within the house as much as possible, that she needed to do her gear retrieval sooner as opposed to later.

Her K-E issued weaponry and gear was safely ensconced at her condo, but her less than legal gear was stashed precisely for occasions like this. A quick call to Locus to have him meet her at his shop in Bellevue for pick up was all that was required, even at this early hour, to make her gear available.

“I’ll keep my activities mixed into the ratio of signal to noise on the outside. Shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to retrieve my gear and get back to the business at hand and doing my part to secure the space.”

She cast a look between D Pop, Jan and DES before she continued.

“I might have some additional ideas and thoughts on how we can have a more reliable early detection of just which location they may be using, but it’s going to take some thought and coordination. Let me deal with my immediate need to get my necessary tools and we can start formulating the plans necessary to insure we all come out on the other side, with the acquired targets.”


Thursday, 21 November, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Rave was true to her word as she approached and reentered the safe house just slightly beyond her two hour estimation. Once she passed scrutiny and was allowed inside, she dropped her gear bags deeper into the living room of the house. Gone was the white club clothing she sported earlier in the morning, replaced by more suitable black tactical pants, broken in combat boots and a West Coast Armory t-shirt that hugged a few of her curves a little too well.

She was on the job, for better or worse. DES seemed to be monitoring the electronic feeds the safehouse provided and Jan was getting the sleep he had said he needed before he could go on an overwatch position. D Pop and Bronwyn were resting in one of the bedrooms and Vexboy had slipped away himself. Things were under control for the time being.

Once everyone had gained a bit of downtime and filtered in and out of the living room the motley crew got to hammering out the immediate needs of security and riffing on their options for how to implement DES' suggestion of how to make one site unsecure for the smugglers with the intention of diverting them into their path.

When D Pop had returned to the group, Rave shared what she had noticed in K-E's databases, about the frequency and dates of the trucks exchanging hands between the Yaks and the Rings back and forth with the plate swaps as a crude but successful way to throw off the scent of anyone watching them who didn't know what they were looking for. The vents, the dates, the trucks themselves might offer the team a way to locate or track the trucks to or from their origin locations.

D Pop had opened her mouth to share some additional information when a heavy knock came against the door.

[Jack_Spade]

Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

John kept the smile going, but didn't move away.
"My name is John", said John "and I didn't sneak up on you. I just don't make much noise. I was given this address to meet up for... a bit of TNKA."


John showed his empty hands
"Relax, I just waited for an opportune moment to go in. If it's a trap it's always better to have another pair of fists at your side - that is I assume you haven't met those inside before, do you?"

[adamu]

Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 1955; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

"Well, you're meeting us now," said a tall attractive woman that opened the door. And then a voice from behind them: "Thanks for showing up guys." Turning, they saw what was essentially a ghost, a cute girl manifesting to them from the astral, all wispy, formlessly frayed robes below the neck. "I understand our sisters have put you each through the wringer in various ways," the ghost continued, "and we're glad you're here...Especially you, Rocky. Thanks so much for what you've done."

Entering, they saw the same ghost girl's body on a sofa, and she woke up and smiled. There was a very attractive young woman in a tight shirt who looked like she was ready to work, and three men: an obvious Amerind; a very young man, almost a boy but with a bit of age in his eyes, in a white tuxedo; and a tall, muscular white elf with a long beard.

Quick introductions were made all around, including the tall attractive lady's self-intro as the notorious D-Pop. "You'll all do well to get to know one another, but for now I will talk, since I need to go and take care of some things. My sisters have done some scouting - yes, cursory, for reasons I have explained - of the two sites. The cemetery still appears to be disused, but they noticed new locks on two sets of gates. Both mechanical and electronic, but made to look old and disused. Otherwise they saw no activity there. The location to the south, the automotive service area that had once served the warehouse retailer, remains a cordoned-off, burnt out shell. But our scouts report that there is nothing to impede vehicles entering besides some tape and ARO warnings. There is a lone security guard, probably for insurance purposes, and in their surveillance, they saw a car approach with two Asian men in it. They spoke to the watchman. I am afraid that is what we have. We found no further indication of which site will be used, or when. Hopefully DES's idea will solve the first problem, but as for the second...we don't know when this will be. As I said, we are not even completely certain when the first exchanges too place."

At that point Rave spoke up. "I believe I can help with that." She explained that before meeting D-Pop she'd been sent to look for her, and told that it somehow involved both the Yaks and the Seoulpas. Doing her own research, she dug deep into K-E archival surveillance footage of both organizations, and found something that the data-crossindexing agents had missed.

In the two separate sets of Yazuza and Seoulpa footage, a truck and another just like it, had been driven somewhere - she never saw where, but it must have been a different spot on each occasion - eight times in the past eight months. There was never footage of them meeting, but always the one driven by the yaks ended up an hour later with the rings, and vice versa. About once a month, the two organizations were exchanging trucks - big tractor trailers hauling shipping containers. But they always had different plates after the exchange - easy enough to do, and easy enough to spot if you were looking - but it was enough to stop the datasort agents from spotting them as the same trucks and flagging the connection. She had only spotted it herself by poring over the footage until her eyes ached and spotting incidental markings - scratches, bits of graffitti, bumper stickers - on trucks that were crossing over from the Yakuza to the Seoulpa footage.

Eight times. March first. April second. May fourth. June sixth. July tenth. August twelfth. September sixteenth. October eighteenth.

She knew that sort of shipping container - the type with subtle additions of air vents.

[Jack_Spade]

Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 1956; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

"Hi there." Confindently, John walked in and straight through the apparition without taking any notice of her.

Politely he listened to the women speak, before saying:
"Aloha, the name is John. Pleasure to meet you etc.
I seem to have missed some key elements of this meeting - so correct me if I get this wrong: You guys want to free a bunch of otherwise soon to be sex-slaves and cannibal-entrees ferried from the Yakuza to the Seoulpa?
But you don't know the exact location where the human cargo will arrive?
A cemetery or a burned out warehouse, right? And I assume no-one around here has a chopper so we can crash where ever the party starts ad hoc?

Oh and another thing: What is you guys and gals specialty? Because I'm mainly here as a jumping gun."

[Raiderj]

"Your still dressed in the tux kid!" Vexboy cleared his throat. "Beg pardon." He took his things and went to the restroom. Again... He came back out in his lined coat and goggles. A pair of black pants and some sneakers replaced his other clothes. "Uh... Well I am a... Gunslinger Adept. I shoot guns well. I have some stealth abillities and can get around well enough. I don't really have any ideas on to determine the locations. But DES' plan sounded good."

[DireRadiant]

Thursday, 21 November, 19:57; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #37

DES had spent the night resting in between finding a nearby spot for a temporary lodge and picking up via a rented courier drone supplies from Red Eyed Jill. He'd given up on finding any appropriate materials for a Homunculus in the house. What it all meant is that he still hadn't gotten enough complete rest, but it had been serviceable.

DES nodded quietly when introduced and listened carefully. He would do what he could to help Warrior Woman.

"I am DES. If you wish to jump out of a plane the Flying Tigress can help you. Otherwise I can help as electronic eyes and Wards."

DES blew air over his hastily crafted pile of leafy branches which transformed them into a green and brown Kite. The Kite's vacant eye holes peered at everyone as it twisted it's head to look around, before it sprang out of DES's hand and flew off around the safe house.

"I can also Speak to the Wind."

[JDragon]

Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 19:50; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex

Rocky was about to answer the strange man, when he heard the voice behind him and saw the ghostly image approach from behind John.

Rocky followed the others in, nodding to acknowledge the comment about the help he had provided Daphne earlier in the day, or at least that’s what he assumed it was about. Looking around the room and not seeing any furniture sized for a troll, he found a spot on the floor where he could lean against the wall and not block traffic to much with his feet. He listened closely as their host outlined the what he had gotten dragged in to, which filled in some of the blanks from his conversation with Daphne.

While John's summary didn't seem to have much feeling it did succinctly cover the situation. Once the boy was back from changing clothes and talking about what he could do, without seeming to give his name Rocky spoke up.

"Evening all, names Rocky. I hit things with these clubs," gesturing with his hands.
"Usually it only takes a shot or two to end the conversation if they connect. I don't have anything else to add to the info, but I'm ready to do what I can to help."

[Jack_Spade]

Thursday, 21 November, 19:57; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #53

"Hm, jumping from a plane... I haven't done that in a while."
He nodded at Rocky's introduction: "Always useful to have.

Alright, since those witches seem to have trouble scouting the astral, we'll have to do it the old fashioned way. Anyone of you good with computers? I already paid my computer girl a considerable amount these last two days and would welcome a stop to this resource drain. Looking for hidden icons around those sites might tell us something. For example hidden sentry turrets or booby traps - which is tremendously handy to know before you stumble into a place.

Anyhow: Breaking and entering silently beforehand seems to be a good idea, provided we have enough experts in that field.

But before we do that, I have a confession to make: I was hired by the Koreans..."
"...hold your guns, let me finish: I was hired not by choice. I tried to free a girl from one of their legal porn production companies. I did this on behalf of her friend. Went off without a hitch, but the stupid bitch didn't want to be rescued. Some Korean boys asked me nicely to get into a car with them and brought me before their boss. The guy wants to know who is offing his boys by evisceration - in exchange he wanted to null my supposed debt to him and his organization.
That's how I came in contact with the witches, who made me a better offer - namely stopping the exchange and - even more important - getting actually paid for my efforts.
Now I'm expected to report back. So all I need to do now is send a careful falsified report to have them react. For example I could tell them they will be attacked at a specific time and through that have them prepone the exchange. I could tell them, that the opposition has a considerable strike force ready at one of the exchange locations, so they use the other one, although that does include the risk that they use a third we don't know about.

So, I'm open to suggestions how to use this piece of leverage."

[DireRadiant]

Thursday, 21 November, 19:57; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #38

DES nodded to himself, laying a false scent of a predator at one of the locations was excellent. Fresh musky scent glands worked best. DES continued to listen.

[Raiderj]

"Maybe we could use the info to trick them into revealing the location of the drop? Give some lie that we found the kids prior and are en route... I dunno... I wouldnt know how to pull that off..." Vexboy admited with a sigh.

[Jack_Spade]

Thursday, 21 November, 19:58; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #54
"I'll need a decision on this from you guys pretty soon. If I keep them waiting to long they smell that something is up.


Oh and another thing: All you knights in shining armor - has anyone asked what to do with the rescuees once we successfully freed them? I mean they probably don't have SINs, know nobody in Seattle and can't pay for their accommodation.
If that hasn't been addressed, this whole operation is like opening the cattle pen at a slaughter house onto the freeway."

John let his arms slowly rotate as if to work out a kink in his muscles. Only then he noticed that he hadn't changed his facial expression since he came here.

[DireRadiant]

Thursday, 21 November, 19:57; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #39

DES shook his head, and answered, "Not street kids. they have families and homes that will take them back." DES lifted a hand indicating Jan, "What this one found out."

[Jack_Spade]

Thursday, 21 November, 19:58; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #55

"Huh? So this could be solved by the FBI? I mean, it's those guys job to look after kidnapped SINners. Damn, if I had known that, I'd have asked my friend to find out identities of those people and maybe arrange for an additional payday from their parents and friends.
Bah, nevermind - then it's a good feelings run."

But seriously: Which location would you prefer for the raid: A cemetery with open air and lots of entrance and exit points but danger from snipers or a closed off warehouse environment.
I'm equipped for both."
John inquired.

[Raiderj]

"We still don't know which is the drop site. We gotta figure that first." Vexboy said. "Also... How are we gonna get these kids out of either location? We would need some kind of freight truck."

[Jack_Spade]

Thursday, 21 November, 19:58; 38th Avenue NE, Northeast Tacoma, Tacoma, Seattle Metroplex #56

"Boy, that's what I try to fix by sending a fake report to the Koreans. If I tell them about a compromised drop site they most likely won't use that one.
For transport: How about we steal the one the Koreans are bringing - I mean - I plan to off them permanently, so they won't need their rides anymore."
John sounded impatient now.