Hunting in the Smoke IC, British Shadows are dark... mostly... Options

[Blitz]

"Wait one. I have some information from sources."

:: Tyen moves back to the computer and instead of making Bob move, she just leans over and reads off the bits of information she was able to glean. ::

"I have both home and office address for Charmicael. Look like Borstad was low profile enough to have nothing worth speculating on except for the usual naughty rumors expected when a man becomes a live in servant with unknown duties."

:: She halfway chuckles at that before continuing. ::

"It is believed that Charmichael was publicly critical of Lord Marchment, but there is much speculation on the depths to that dislike. Also seen with Duchess of Snowdon enough for some to draw distasteful references, though he's also rumored to be seeing a woman named Elise Patrick.

:: She shakes her head slightly. Mutter the next bit more to herself than anyone else. ::

"I never understand why half of rumors always involve sex in some way. I think the world is repressed or something. The rich usually don't have nearly the sex life we envision for them. Money makes men impotent."

:: She clears her throat slightly and continues. ::

"He also has frequent enough dealings with Zeta-Imp-Chem and "HKB" the financial giant to make it interesting. His home is well guarded, no information on security at office."

:: Standing up, she looks to the decker and appears to think a moment. ::

"Do you think you can obtain security data on office?"

[Rakshasa]

The response from Bob was noncommittal, more because his mind was on his impending meeting with the corpse of Robert Borstad than of any inability to obtain the necessary information. Tyen let it ride, knowing she would press the point once the memory chip had been recovered.

Piper stared at the woman. Horn rimmed glasses notwithstanding, she looked ...he didn't have the right superlative. Instead he swallowed hard and stuck to business. "Useful data, and we'll have to follow it up - after we get the memory chip." He headed for the door, anticipating the others would follow.

Fist seemed elated with the small flag blowing in the breeze over the limousine's bonnet as he drove the runners to the Municipal morgue. The note that they had left for Stone and Sandy was prominent on the consul keyboard and the hope that this element of the job wouldn't take long should set their minds at ease.

Stamford Street and the towering edifice that was the King's College Teaching Hospital heave into view. It may have been the Jack pennant or the sleek lines of the limo which made the first barrier lift without any sort of check on the vehicles occupants, but the second was a different story. A burly, grey uniform and sidearm held its hand up, halting their progress.

"Business?" `Grey Uniform' stared at the hapless Fist waiting for a reply. Piper leant across the driver, sensing corded muscles, tense and ready for fight or flight.

"M.O.D. business. Down in the morgue." Piper stared at the security man, daring him to enquire further.

"Papers!" Obviously this one was no fool. Piper abstracted the requisition from the Arsenal, passing it across Fist and holding it wide open for the man to read in its entirety. He didn't bother, the logo at the top fixed his gaze and he merely grunted.

"Take the off ramp over there. Park up in one of the bays allocated to the morgue. You can't miss em." He stood erect and waved to the small security cabin by the barrier and it lifted clear.

Fist gunned the car, suddenly remembered he wasn't the getaway man and tapped the brake. Sedately, the limo tooled down the ramp into the well lit underground car park. As the guard had said, you couldn't miss the morgue spaces. Two black vans, unmarked and highly polished, their rear doors toward the wall, were obviously hearses, ready to transport corpses at the beginning of their final journey.

The fore exited the limo, Deuce giving final instructions to Fist, before they went inside. Paperwork to get past a guide was one thing, paperwork for a Pathologist was something else again. Piper handed the requisition to Tyen.

"I'm thinking you'll be far better at the art of persuasion than I, me lass. It's the eyes the MOD wants remember."

The autopsy room was cold, stainless steel cold, and the rows of drawers beckoned with an imaginary bony finger.

"May I help you?" The runners started at the sudden sound and whirled as one to look at the bespectacled, dwarf of a woman in a green surgical gown.

[Mysterio]

ugh dwarven women are so ugly thought Deuce. Though not too sure if he'd rather charm a dwarven lady or muck around on a dead fragger, he decided that maybe he'd be of more use as a distraction to the lady than playing mortician. He motioned for Piper to hand him the papers stating their "official" business.
"Ah yes ma'am, we're with the M.O.D, on official business here," he said with a smile to the lady. Deuce waved his hand, signalling to the others to keep working away. "I would be more than happy to sit down with you and discuss our business with you," he took the dwarven hand and gave it a brief kiss on top, cringing on the inside, "My name is General Griffin, "
I can't remember what my name is supposed to be, and it doesn't matter to this ugly piece of work thought Deuce as he gently put one hand on the dwarf's back to gently lead her into an office.

[Blitz]

:: Tyen is happy to hand the documents over, knowing she rarely does well directly under observation. However, seeing the confused yet stern look on the stocky womans face, Tyen nods and leans forward to comment, adding a little magical potency to her rather pathetic encouragement. ::

"He's really quite charming."

[Drain Brain]

With a distinct glazing over of her eyes, the corroner allows herself to be led back into her office by the "charming" hands of "General Griffin."

Bob watches them leave. And Watches. And watches some more. It's not until he's nudged, in fact, that he makes any move at all.

"Okay okay... where is the body then, Irish?"

It takes the combined effort of Tyen and Piper to find Borstad - with no help from Bob, who cowers near the door. Within two minutes, the corpse is out on display, the freezer drawer clouding with condensation.

Bob shuffles nervously over to the cadaver and regards it from at least three feet away. After a quick nervous tick of the jaw, he spools out a cable from his deck and hands the end to Piper. "Stick the pointy end in his 'jack."

Although the others look at him like he's a dunse, he stands his ground. "I'm not touching that if I don't have to. And don't expect me to ever use that cable again. That's like... necrophilia or something."

While the Irishman fiddles with the jack, tittering laughter can be heard from the Corroner's office as the Dwarf giggles at Deuce's quips. In a short time, Bob's deck is powered up and fairly sucking information from Borstad's skull. Three minutes, and it's all over.

"I have it all. There was a datalock, but I broke it - we're ready to leave. Can we leave now?"

[Blitz]

:: Tyen nods and zips the bag back up before sliding Borstad back into his temporary tomb. With a solid thud, the door is shut and latched and she looks to Piper. ::

"I'll get the dandy. Meet you in the Limo."

:: Heading back down the hallway, she knocks on the door before letting herself in and is thankful that the glasses hide her rolling eyes. ::

"General, something has come up and we need be leaving."

:: She takes great pains to eliminate the Russian accent from her speech. ::

[Silverspur_2020]

Decideding that it would be better to meet up with the rest of the group, rather then go find this gang with just her and Stone. Sandy turns the engine of the Landrover over and listens as it rumbles into life, its mildly tuned engine hiding the amount of eqipment stored inside.

Getting back to the celler a little quicker then Stone on his motorbike, Sandy walks in and looks around the room... seeing the note and the left over soycaf and bread and things, she picks up the bread and happily munches on it while reading the note, realising that she and Stone hadnt been the only ones at work. She smiles happily, she enjoys working with professionals...espeically when they all work so well as a team. They are the people you can count on.

[Mysterio]

Sitting in the little office, Deuce tells the dwarf stories about his "military duty" and places he 'served" and finally to the people he's had dinner with from the social elite because of who he is. The idle chit chat lasting only minutes while the others worked away, felt like hours to the elf. Finally there was a quiet rapping at the door.
"General, something has come up and we need be leaving."
Thank whatever totem you want thought Deuce. "Ah yes, I'll be right there," he stands up and looks at the dwarven woman, noticing the look of disappointment in her eyes, "Well my dear, I must be going, duty calls, things need to be done, and someone has to do them," he gives her a cool smile.
"Will I ever see you again?"
Oh frag I hope not
"But of course, I will call, maybe a night on the town?"
"Oh yes sir!" she says with a giggle.
"Excellent," and he kisses her hand and smiles. She stays in her chair, and watches as deuce follows tyen out the door, closing it behind him.
"Holy drek, what took so long?" he says to the others as they head out of the dimly lit hallway.

[Silverspur_2020]

As the others walk into the small underground room where they have been camped out since yesterday, Sandy looks up from the file that she is re-reading and smiles warmly at the group dressed up in their military clothes.... "Have we been playing dress up then boys and girls?! Stone and I went and checked out a couple of contacts, and we got this from one of them.... I havew already scanned it and sent a copy to your Pocket Secretaries, so everyone has a copy. It has a few interesting things to say about this gang. I was woundering what the next course of action should be? I was contemplating weather or not we should go see the gang direct and see if we can ask what they are up to."

[Drain Brain]

The already pale Bandwidth Bob blanches further at the suggestion. "Ya, great idea. You do that. I have to be elsewhere, though... I have an, erm, appointment. Yes, that's it..."

[Mysterio]

Deuce chuckles at the cowboy's reaction, then quickly regains his composure.
"Not a bad idea, but I don't think the direct approach works well with gangs...anywhere." he lights up his cigarette, "I say we pool our information, lay it all out and see where we're at exactly, leave nothing out."

[Drain Brain]

Nodding vigorously, Bob heads over to the corner and fishes out his old Fuchi deck, slotting the power cord into the wall. "While you do that, I'll go through what I got from the cor... corp... from Borstad. I'll sort it and feed it back out for us to go over..."

[Mysterio]

"Okay then," taking a puff from his cigarette, "Borstad, a man with a briefcase as we originally were told, taking a walk to someplace, has the misfortune of not packing heat, or in general, outnumbered, ambushed or something to that nature. His little briefcase, stolen, as I think anyone would expect. Did these people know who their target was? or was it wrong place wrong time for the fragger who's now a cold slab downtown?"

[Silverspur_2020]

"Personally I think there is something deeper in all of this... I think he or the guy he worked for made a deal and he was double crossed, killed and the briefcase stolen."

[Mysterio]

"I agree. Borstad was Carmicheal's bitch, that seems to be no secret. Why would he venture out alone into a less than respectable neighbourhood? And did his employer know?"

[Silverspur_2020]

"I would be willing to bet its his employer that helped set up whatever has happened... and then the employer along with Borstad has been double crossed. Maybe Borstad was asked to go because of his military history, maybe they thought he could handle himself?"

[Rakshasa]

The ex-master sergeant listened intently to what the rest of the team had to say. “We now have whatever was in Borstad’s memory chip, once Bob’s deciphered it.” Piper put a pan of water on to boil.

“From what I found in the Squeeze, the hit on Carmicael’s courier was just that. A hit. He wasn’t herded into the tenement by the Gang, he went there by appointment. The Gang were the reason he went up two flights of stairs though. But the fire escape out of the second floor had been rigged, I found fresh hacksaw marks on the ironwork.” He mashed tea and stirred it thoughtfully.

“From everything that’s been said, I get the impression that the Duke’s London office might be worth our attention.” He looked at Tyen. “34 Park Lane or something? Anyway, a night visit might be appropriate, so who’s good with Security systems?”

[Silverspur_2020]

Sandy smiles wickedly...."Well im good with security guards!! anything to brighton up a dull evening!" then looking thoughtful she comes up with a plan in her mind...

"although anther way to tackle it would be to get a security rigger in on the job, have him take over the system and lock any phonelines that may be used to call backup as well as switching off locks and cameras that would ID us. It would have to be done subtly.... then we have a team go in, either covertly so any security guards dont see us, or I go in and distract them. While that is being done the team head into the office and go information seeking. I shouldnt think the attention of a security rigger would cost much for a one building hit. If you want I dare say I could set us up with one."

Smiling inwardly...she is sure that its a good plan, not only does it stop anyone being picked up on but it would be a precise and co-ordinated operation.

[Drain Brain]

The team are busily making plans when Bob jacks out from his cyberdeck and approaches them. Waiting until there is a lull in the conversation, he slaps down his roll-out screen in the centre of the group.

"Problem, mein freunds - I don't think Mr Borstad was taking that walk at the will of his boss...

"The cybereyes had a still-photo camera in them - these are the images I pulled off his headware memory..."

The group crowd around the little screen as Bob puts on a little slideshow for their benefit. All the pictures seem to be of Carmichael, taken from angles other than ideal, and showing him speaking with various parties.

"I've already got a smartframe trying to put names to those faces, but I think our Mr Borstad may well have been a plant...

[Blitz]

:: Tyen is silent and listens as the team goes over their information, seemingly at first to just be restating the same questions that were asked before the investigation had begun. She begins to remove the overcoat and the surgical mask and pushes her glass up on top of her head as Piper begins to give his assessment. ::

:: As he turns his attention to her she smiles slightly and nods at the address quoted. Her mouth opens to answer his question but the elf woman interjects and directs the conversation beyond that point and into a torrent of brainstorming. Unfortunately, during the next pause in the conversation, she is again preempted with Bob's timely information. The silence that follows Bob's assessment stretches just long enough for Tyen to decide to try again, though her voice is anything but agressive. ::

"It looks like Borstad's job was spying, and spies usually only watch what worth spying on. Carmichael's office still best bet. We should find out what Borstad was looking for, maybe will tell us what was in case."

:: She seems to think before mumbling to herself. Her thumb and forefinger absently pulling on her lower lip as she gets lost in her thoughts. ::

"Perhaps we are working for Borstad's real employers.... he was exmilitary, maybe government, definately covert, perhaps antigovernment? most likely not terrorists.. to covert for their tastes.... highly possible it's corporate sponsored, they like ex military and are much more ruthless than most governments..."

:: Looking up realizing it's still quiet in the room aside from her ramblings she blushes as she realizes everyone was listening. ::

"Oh..sorry, just thinking out loud."

[Rakshasa]

“If Borstad was a spy, which seems to be more than likely now, a visit to the Duke’s office is even more useful.” Piper sipped tea. “Some suits have it in for Carmichael, that’s obvious. Which suits needed the data Borstad stole, we should find out. At least that way we’ll know who we’re really working for.”

He drained his mug. “The other thing that comes to mind is Who assassinates the assassin?, or in this case who bumped off the spy? Whoever it was plays rough, so we should be ready to shoot first. Also, Carmichael’s office has already lost something, their security will be very tight.” He crossed to the table and put his makings away. “Bob, see if you can match any of the faces from Borstad’s optics to the Corporate hierarchy. It might tell us who the Duke trusts, or not.”

Piper went back and rearranged his chair. Sitting and stretching his legs onto another chair, he looked at the time. “It’s four p.m. which means it’s a good four hours before dark. I suggest we all catch forty winks before the fun starts.” With that, Piper pulled his forage cap down over his eyes and allowed himself to drift off.

[Blitz]

:: Tyen nods and turns to head into the bathroom. Locking the door behind her, she strips down out of her armor and clothing before taking a short lukewarm shower. Only long enough to wash the grit of the city from her sensitive skin and thick hair. Afterwards, she sits on the locker room style bench and carefully wipes down her form fitting body armor with a slightly soapy wet cloth before drying each section with a clean towel. Once completed, she dons her second skin carefully and over that she dresses in a nearly identical ensemble of dark heavy weight pants, a grey thermal and a a heavy synthetic wool pullover in a muddy shade of red. ::

:: Pulling her fingers through her tangled wet hair, she smooths it out and wrings the excess water from the ends over the small rusted drain in the center of the room. Once she has relinquished the large washroom, she spies Piper's tea impliments and smiles. Heading in their direction, she tries to be as quiet as possible as she goes through the motions, assuming he's already asleep and she'd hate to wake him. ::

:: Deciding to leave the cot available for her "guests", she settles into the corner and uses her towl as a cushion. Closing her eyes, she inhales the aroma of the bitter tea and sighs as she feels tensions ease just enough to be discernable. The small dose of therepy is finished quickly enough and Tyen wraps herself in her leather coat and lays her head on her knees. Her dark hair falls forward and as it covers the pale skin of her face, it seems to swallow up the last of the light in the corner. The shadows embrace their sister. ::

[Mysterio]

"I can take a stab at who'd bump off a spy, the person who they're spying on. If an associate were spying on me, I'd have the person fragged twice over" says Deuce as Piper and Tyen each started to get ready for their naps. Deuce then puts out the lst of his cigarette and stands up, "Well I, for one, am starved," Deuce smiles at Sandy, "Care to join me for dinner?" He glances at Stone then back to Sandy, "Your friend may also join us."
Though a shower and a decent suit wouldn't hurt him

[Silverspur_2020]

"To be honest I havent slept since yesterday night and im shattered, if you dont mind I would rather just get some sleep!" and with that Sandy follows by Tyen's example and goes for short shower (making sure the door is locked!) before stretching out on the bed for a short cat nap....

[Mysterio]

As Sandy goes into the bathroom, Deuce just stands there for a moment
"Bah, women..." he mutters and leaves, knowing that Fist would be there shortly to pick him up.