[IP] Panzerknacker Options

[Jack_Spade]

[ Spoiler ]

Schmidt replied:
"Mr. Delgado, pleased to meet you again.
The gentleman to my left is called Flatline. He is a physician and a powerful mage. He is the safety line for this undertaking. He is also our CEO for representation purposes
The handsome troll here is Krestov. He is part of the core team I told you about and takes care both of protection of the team and... well seduction of certain targets. His official ID reads Head of Security.
There are four more members in our safe house. Another mage, Anna, a rigger, Kite, our weapon and assault specialist, Slobbertooth and our decker/rigger bnc.
You'll meet them in due time - provided you take my offer.

As I told you in my message, we are planning a bank robbery. The bank is directed by a certain ex-captain of the Azlan intelligence forces, who we are nearly certain is also a blood mage of prodigious power. Our plan has advanced smoothly so far, but in light of the fact that we are now getting very close to the man and his loyal ex-jaguar bodyguard adept, I think it's wise to call on your expertise.
When we succeed each member of this crew can expect a high six to low seven figure sum. My share is the retrieval of certain research data and prototypes that were stolen from my research team a year ago.
Are you interested?"

[rednblack]

Chaim nods to Flatline and Krestov. The pair was playing it close to the chest, which Chaim could appreciate. The mention of a specific ex-captain of Aztlan intelligence certainly caught Chaim's attention as well.

"Who?"

"Does that mean you're interested?" Schmidt asks.

"Seven figures has me interested. Blood magic wielding spooks has me concerned. Still, it sounds like a lot of the legwork has already been done, and if there are no casualties to speak of, then that speaks well of the team. Flatline, if you'll have me aboard. . ."

[Jack_Spade]

[ Spoiler ]

Schmidt nodded:
"Good. Because Dr. Zola should make anyone concerned. I'll give you the full briefing once you have met the rest of the team. Drink up, we have a schedule to keep."
Flatline shrugged:
"Dr. Schmidt should probably have said, that my CEO status is only the role I play - and rather badly. I'm all to glad to be relieved of that particularly part of the undertaking. So welcome on board."
Krestov rumbled in his Russian accent:
"Is pleasure to meet you even though you are Azlan man."

Schmidt nodded again:
"Right. I forgot to mention that the core team had their first mission working against Aztechnology - with the resulting scars. But don't worry, they are hardened professionals by now... most of the time."

[Volker]

Despite Anna's doubts, it proved indeed quite difficult to identify a biomonitor from the astral. They were small and inside the body, a tiny grey speck amidst a sea of living aura. It hardly hat a characteristic form. Hardly recognizable sensors which would measure blood pressure, body temperature and so. An almost indistinguishable spot right under the skin's surface to measure temperature, humidity and blood stream in the outer regions of the body. You had to know exactly where to look to identify the different elements of a biomonitor as such.

[rednblack]

Chaim resisted the urge for oneupsmanship. Clearly, Schmidt had related to the team some of Mr. Delgado's history in those regards, and there was nothing to be done about that now. But if the team had suffered some lumps from Aztechnology as well, all the better from his perspective. Nothing united like a common enemy. Unless, someone on the team had been the cause of those unfortunate -- what was the word used, "scars"? -- externalities, that could certainly cause problems.

"Yes, it seems hardly anyone can escape the jaguar unscathed. I hope no one is too worse for the wear."

He drains the rest of his modelo soy beer synth alcohol and real tobacco. Fitting, and intimates that he is ready whenever Dr. Schmidt, Flatline, and Krestov are.

The trip back to the safehouse is uneventful, if a bit cramped. When they enter, Chaim introduces himself to each member of the team in turn and asks, "So, what are our immediate next steps?"

[ Spoiler ]

Memory Roll: Dr. Zola: 6d6t5 3

Memory test to see if the name Dr. Zola rings any bells.

[SquirrelDude]

Slobber had finally gotten out the gorgeous suit he hated so much and back into his regular armored jacket and pants. "I'm about to go practice kidnapping a dog, and figure out how to get a book we stole back into a safe now that we've read it. Your help on that latter part would be appreciate. C'mon Kite, let's go stakeout a puppy."


Slobber patted Zelda on the head, "Don't worry, we'll make sure to give it back and that it's taken care of while it stays with us."

[Jack_Spade]

[ Spoiler ]

Schmitt entered after Chaim and smirked.
"To put this a bit less confusing: The target is the girlfriend of a security spider, responsible for the bank. The ultimate aim is to disable the spider remotely without triggering any alarms. For that we hope that his girlfriend can provide some insights about his flat and any cybernetic or biological enhancements that we should be aware about.
For this, the team is currently preparing a con - helping the mark get her dog back and using that to gain her trust."
To the currently scattered team in the large hall, he called out:
"By the way, this is Chaim, your new grifter."

[SquirrelDude]

Josiah halfway raised his right hand to call attention to himself, and pointed to his teeth with his other. "Slobbertooth. I'm the guy who shoots people, steals dogs, and is notably terrible at birthday parties."

[Volker]

bnc is currently in her room.

[ Spoiler ]

As soon as bnc is informed about the new member, she will spends some hours to do an profound background check on him.
Uhm, for that regard, would you please be so kind as to let me know how much INT and Firewall you and your commlink do sport? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Gilga]

Anna was practicing spotting the biomonitor, each time bnc placed it in a different place on her body. Anna felt like she knew bnc's aura by heart - but she also got relatively good in spotting the biomonitor. When Chaim arrives, she projected to assense the man before exiting the room to say hello.

[ Spoiler ]

Augmenting intuition to find the biomonitor.
Improve intuition: 15d6t5 3
assensing (try again): 13d6t5 5

assensing: 16d6t5 3 she'll try again.
assensing (try again): 13d6t5 5 not bad...

She tells bnc "Difficult to be certain from the astral, but he seems good looking. Are you coming to meet him?"

[rednblack]

Chaim looks around the common room, and counts heads. He nods as Schmidt gives the main brush strokes of the con.

"Yeah, that could work. And the book?"

Slobbertooth explains, and Chaim nods again, this time with eyebrows raised. "Sounds like you got your work cut out for you. And nobody likes birthday parties anyway. You want some company?"

Counting heads one more time, Chaim frowns a little before saying, "Where's the matrix support? I have a couple questions."

[ Spoiler ]

INT (4) + Firewall (6) = 10

Chaim is running his Enrique Casada (UCAS) SIN, assorted Licenses, + Savalette Guardian, EX Defiance, Berwick Suit, Ulysses Coat, Bio-monitor, Auto-injector, and Datajack Wireless On. Neither of his burner links would be active, nor does he typically run with ear buds, contacts, etc. Wireless On. If the safe house is in a D or below neighborhood, he would not be running a SIN.

Chaim will want bnc to do the software part of the test for one of his synthskin masks. He wants to be handsome debonair Azzie #47. He's going to hold off on the other mask at the moment, in case some sort of impersonation is called for at a later date. It's a Software + LOG test, and successes will act as a Teamwork test for Chaim's Disguise roll.

[Volker]

It takes some time till bnc returns to the common room, but eventually she'll appear and introduce herself.

[ Spoiler ]

If anyone wants to answer or do anything before bnc returns, please tell me so. Then I'll wait with my post.
Otherwise:
Before I can write the post, I have to questions:
@Jack: Has the team been informed of Chaim's participation?
@rednblack: What is Chaim looking like at the moment?

[SquirrelDude]

"I'm sure she only has a few questions, too." Slobber sighed and went to get a drink. This could end up taking a bit.

[Jack_Spade]

[ Spoiler ]

Schmitt mentioned that he would introduce a new member to the team in this post: http://forums.dumpshock.com/index.php?show...t&p=1335992

[Volker]

[ Spoiler ]

Hack on the Fly: 19d6t6 5
Opposed roll: 10d6t5 1
Matrix Sarch: 14d6t5 4

I will file through all interesting data on Chaim's phone. I'll analyze which social medias he uses, under what aliases he communicates, who he talks to, what he writes, which pictures he uploads, which music he listens to, what he buys, what he was interested to buy and so forth. In short, I'll try to collect all data there is to be found to create a psychological profile, curriculum vitae and basically everything there is to be known about him. I'll use both the data I rob from the commlink and I find in an extended matrix search.
Not all of this I can do before this post, but I will do it eventually if I lack the time now.

After a while, bnc comes downstairs. When she recognizes Chaim, she greets him with a nod and something like a somewhat frozen smile.
"Look who's there. Turf's getting crowdy.
bnc."
bnc nods towards him. "Nice to meet you."
Towards Gerhardt she says: "See how nice and cozy I can be? Ugh.
I assume he's the new Torrent?"

[Gilga]

Anna follows shortly and curtsied as she shook Chaim's hand doing her best to practice her cooperate level etiquette. "Anna", she said. It was not as much for Chaim as it was a way to keep practicing the body language expected from her. She was wearing a black dress, as she did not yet have time to change clothes since the hotel.

[rednblack]

Chaim turns to bnc. "I'm not the new anyone. I'm assuming you'd be the matrix support. You have that air about you." Whether Chaim was referring to the odor or the attitude was something he left unsaid.

At Anna's curtsy, Chaim smiles. "Chaim," he answers, the guttural "H" of his name sounding almost gentle. He waits to see if Anna offers her hand before extending his own, a holdover of days long past.

"Quite the digs you all have here. Assuming I can leave my gear in one of the empties?"

[ Spoiler ]

The Transys Avalon is Chaim's work link, so everything is Enrique Casada specific. Music is boring top 40s. Social media is rather nondescript. He "likes" a lot of celebrity and club pages, posts only inoffensive food pics, things of that nature. Mr. Casada appears to have no political affiliations, or racial preferences, or much of a personality in general.

With your roll, Volker, you can probably assume that Chaim's SIN is a fake -- obviously -- but I would also think the level would be obvious as well -- R4. Unfortunately, there isn't anything on there that would help you find anything about Chaim. He doesn't shit where he eats.

[Gilga]

Uncertain exactly what kind of etiquette Chaim aim's for but a bit flattered, she extends her hand. She is many things but is not a nun. A hint to the man's past perhaps she ponders for a moment but suppresses that thought - there was no essence in starting digging skeletons on her fellow colleagues.

"It's a nice prison indeed, makes me grateful for any chance to get out. Come! I'll show you around to an empty room. "

[Volker]

bnc raises her eyebrow and says in mock-surprise: "Tough answer. Really original. Only you weren't the adressee.
Yep, I am our decker. And you are..?"

[Jack_Spade]

[ Spoiler ]

Schmitt shook his head, showing a certain weariness:
"No, he is no replacement for Torrent - even if he does have certain skills that Torrent too has. He is the specialist I mentioned that will help us see this mission through without anyone from our side getting hurt - hopefully.
For that matter, I'd ask you to bring Chaim up to speed. As mentioned, I'll work on getting us a life model of the bank, so we can start practicing the. Krestov, Flatline, I'll need your expertise on this matter.
The rest of you I trust to find the necessary information to solve our spider challenge."

[Volker]

"Then welcome on board, non-Torrent.
What exactly are you a specialist of, by the way?"

[Gilga]

Anna chuckled "Seems pretty obvious to me... He is clearly a charmer. You'd notice if you weren't so gay."

[Volker]

"So are you. Why do we need a second specialist for spending a lot of time looking in the mirror?"

bnc takes a seat on the couch. Her hair is still wet - apparently she has taken a shower recently. She doesn't meet Chaim's eyes as she talks with him. Maybe she's reading something. Maybe she's not feeling well. Or maybe she's just being rude.

[rednblack]

Chaim takes Anna's offered hand, and makes a brief bow with his head as they shake. "That really is a stunning dress. The next time I decide to strap on a pair of heels, I think I'd like to find one just like it."

Before Anna can drag him to an empty room, Chaim turns to bnc. "Ah, a quip about originality: the refuge of the hoop without a retort. Besides, it was a simple observation.
One can hardly expect every statement of fact to be dripping with the inimitable, now can we? And my name, I would've thought you'd caught it," he motions toward his exchange with Anna.

"Regardless, I need your help," he says as he drops his bag on the floor and begins rifling through it. A moment later, he draws out a neutral, flat, face-like "thing." "Programming's not my strong suit, but I would certainly like an extra layer of anonymity as we move forward. I'd like to stay Aztlaner, and keep my famous cheekbones, but maybe a slightly stronger chin, a different arch to my eyebrows. Something you can handle? It'll keep me away from the mirror at least.

Anna, lead the way, please. And tell me more about this plan. Anything I can do to help?"

[Gilga]

Anna Chuckled "Thanks... I am the 'other' mage by the way."
When he pulls off his face thing she seems intrigued
"Wow cool gizmo!... I can probably achieve the same with cosmetics but it is harder work. Are they expensive?"

She shrugs "We plan a con to gain the trust of a doll-like girlfriend of their spider. Ask her some questions about her husband and then move in bnc to ask technical stuff... We thought of having someone hides her dog and then I help her look for it. Gain her trust invites her to coffee the dog is found or not found depending on her emotional reaction and what would be best. I tell her about my spider girlfriend, she tells me about her spider boyfriend. We gossip a bit - then I send in bnc to ask some more professional stuff because she is between jobs or something...

I usually just improvise, but in this case, we try to make a plan. You get bonus points if you can find an excuse for bnc to slap me as part of the con... Perhaps we can do it slightly differently now that you are here. "