IC: Chasing the Prize, We always get our mark Options

[Johnson]

The heavyness of the Gell rounds, pushed Tiny like air blowing a packet.

Following the commands that Bishop has sent.

"Where are you parked!" bursts over the comms. "I can't see you yet."

[BishopMcQ]

Bishop:
Tiny's comm call is cut short as the sound of stun batons discharging crackles over the radio. Through the rough battle-tac network, you watch the give and take between four guards armed with oversized cattle-prods and your beleaguered companion. The clear sound of cyberspurs getting unsheathed is anti-climactically met by his massive body sinking to the earth under the never tender mercies of electrical impulses. Within seconds, reinforcements have arrived and have the large troll manacled tightly.

By the third ring of your call to JT, Lonestar patrol cars have barreled past you pulling up on the sidewalk. They don't seem to give you a second glance as they charge into the growing anxiety of the mob.

[Ecclesiastes]

As the patrol cars pull past him, Bishop kicks the Brumby into gear, pulls a U-turn and drives away like none of this was his bussiness.

[BishopMcQ]

::Elsewhere::
A tired businessman runs through the trainstation, not taking the time to notice the wash of color and light around him. Pushing out into the cold night air, he steps straight into a taxi that has just unloaded several passengers.

"2716 Wall St. Double fee if you make there in five minutes."

The cabbie looks into the mirror unbelievingly but pulls into traffic with the suddenness that is known to panic less skilled drivers and passengers. Five minutes and seven near accidents later, the businessman climbs out of the cab and hands over a small wad of UCAS dollars.

Shedding his coat at the door, the middle-aged man assumes the position against the wall while a large troll pats him down for weapons. Satisfied that nothing too dangerous is getting brought into the small coffehouse, the bouncer backs away and lets the man through.

"New York wasn't far enough Jonny, you've got to get me on the other side of the pond by tomorrow night otherwise I'm in a lot more trouble than either of us bargained for."

A man covered in shadows smoking a long cigar chuckles and puts out one hand into the light. Two wads of UCAS dollars and a few plastic chips are dropped into his hand.

"C'est mon plaisir."

Handing a briefcase to the businessman, the troll shows him back out the door to the street and the cold wind-swept winter night.

[Johnson]

::Seattle Bellevue Lone Star Precinct::

Signing for the last of his goods on the data slate. Tiny puts the last of his personals in to his pockets andn heads out in to the cold are of the streets. Heading to the closest cab stopping area. Tiny hails a cab.

"To the Bling Bling driver." a little crampped with his knees near his chest, Tiny pulls out his cell. Thumbing through the Numbers he finds Bishops name. Thumbs the green phone button.

Waiting for the call to be answered.

[HeySparky]

Edana gets a clay crock of sake out of her refrigerator and a couple of matching cups from a cabinet. She pours for Charlie and anyone else who's interested, "Thank Gonzales for this, he got me the bottle as a housewarming gift. It's chilled, but it should warm you up nicely."

She hops up onto the counter and picks up her mug, cradling it for warmth.

"Well, how're we going to get to New York? I'm virtually broke. Between rent and some uh... maintenance on the Brumby, I've got about a thousand nuyen to my name."

Herne clears his Astral throat. Probably should have waited to get that moon roof until after the new year.

But I know you like seeing the sky, Herne, though I could really use that money now. She stares into her coffee... Good work chasing down Ballefour.

Thanks for the moon roof.

Her skin swirls and she looks up, dye from the paints leaving vague blue lines and swirls. The overall effect of her pale, blue-tinged is one of oxygen depravation or maybe hypothermia.

"How long do we have before the city starts shutting down and closing off?" She looks at Grave.

[Bastard]

JT gives the names of his teamates to the detective. "I figured we would be going by air, we don't have too much time. Do you think Lone Star can set us up with a trip to New York City-ASAP? I will see if we can get to a doctor and get records right away."


After the call with Tak, JT answers his call waiting. "Whats up Bishop?...Oh drek...Maybe Tak can get him out. I will call you back. He may be able to get us out of the city, but we need clean records from a certified doctor. Talk to you in a few minutes."

Lighting up Tak's phone once again, "Sorry to bother you, but one of our opporatives has been captured. He's a troll who goes by the name of Tiny and youre en route to pick him up now."

[HMHVV Hunter]

Helios sighs in frustration as he hears of Tiny's capture.

"That dumb lug," he mutters. "We gotta get to NYC and stop this guy now. This is gonna delay us hours!"

[Ecclesiastes]

Not too much after calling in, Bishop arrives where the group is gathered. He strolls up and takes a seat with a heavy sigh. "Whats the SitRep on Tiny?"

[BishopMcQ]

JT:
Tak doesn't answer and you leave the message in his voice mail box.

[HMHVV Hunter]

"You mean besides the fact he got his ass thrown in jail and has delayed our pursuit by a good few hours?" Helios says to Bishop, clearly impatient. "Not sure."

[Ecclesiastes]

"You shoulda been there. I pull into the mod scene and let him know I'm there. Before I even know he is in trouble he is bolting for me, but I'm about a block away and there are hundreds of people, plus a bunch of armed guards between him and I. I didn't even know anything was wrong till the guards started smacking him with stun batons. That boy sure don't know a damn thing about tactics, thats for certain."

[Tanka]

Charlie gladly accepted the saki. He nodded to Edana.

"Now now kids, let's not start tearing each other apart. It'll make our job that much harder."

He took a sip.

"Now, 's'far as I see it... We gotta keep a close eye on this guy. If he knows we're after 'im, he's gonna be runnin' as much as he can. There any way we can keep 'im still while we go and pick 'im up fer the prize?"

[Bastard]

JT follows Bishop back inside. "Well I left Tak a message, he may be able to assist us in exiting the city, and getting to New York. First though, we need to get cleared by an MD. Anyone got a street doc with actual UCAS certification? He may also be able to get Tiny out of jail. Im just waiting on his call. Also does anyone have any idea how we can get there? Hopefully someone has a friend who can fly us there."

[BishopMcQ]

Moments slowly creak by, time clawing its way ever forward past indecision towards inevitability.

Tak calls back. "I'll see what I can do," he says. His lack of confidence in pulling the troll out of lock-down is disheartening but to be expected given the situation. Now you are in the providence of lawyers and a cop can only push the system so far. "No one is getting out of town for the next eighteen hours, except maybe through Cascade." The Lonestar detective's parting comment seemed to be as much an apology as a word of advice.

[HMHVV Hunter]

"18 hours..." Helios says. "Well, we should formulate and refine our plan then, and get everything together that we need to be smuggled."

[HeySparky]

Edana lets out a pent up breath at JT's news. "I can see if Townsend knows anybody who could smuggle us, though he's been out of it for a while."

She looks at the floor thinking, "We definitely need to get those clean bills of health. If nothing else for peace of mind. I'm scared one of us might be a carrier."

"Gonzales, can your Doc friend check us out? I don't really care at this point if we have certified or fake documents to get out of here and after Ballefour, but I really want to know if we're... ...sick. If one of us is carrying VITAS we're all in danger. And anyone we come in contact with."

She takes a big sip from her steaming mug, hiding her worry unsuccessfully behind the cup. Sliding off the counter she slips out the door to call Townsend.

"Assay Townsend, it's Edana again. I have a favor to ask. Do you know anyone who might be able to get me and my team out of the city?" She pauses, "How far out of the city? ...uh... to New York..." The young woman winces as she waits for Townsend's reply.

[BishopMcQ]

Edana:
"Darling, that's a costly request at the moment. I know some people who can do it for you, but you could easily be looking at twelve big ones." He pauses to let you weigh the price of several months rent for a plane ride.

"That trip though could probably take six or eight people..." Townsend offers, trying to ease the blow somewhat.

[Kremlin KOA]

"Edana I am on thin ice with Chrissie from what i already asked her, but given that the only exposure we've had was with sealed glass vials we should be safe."

[Bastard]

"I say we at least try to get some of us out of here as soon as possable. The rest can join us in New York. He may be on his way out of the country, I dont think we have enough time to sit here and wait." JT's voice rises as he speaks with enthusiasm. Maybe it is best that half of the team start on Bellafour's trail, while the others take care of business in Seattle. That fits the original "hammer and anvil plan" anyways.

[Kremlin KOA]

"good call, though I want in on the first team. This has become personal for me."

[toturi]

Grave:

"Alright, those on the chase team presumably would have to go through several customs checks, the train would have to go through quite a few borders. So people with up to date permits and SINs that can stand up to scrutiny can be on the Hammer team. Team Anvil can skip all the rigamole by shipping their stuff with me. So the question is that if the guys on Hammer needs backup or heavier firepower, you are on your own."

"Anvil cannot afford to lose any time getting to New York, so we do not have time to waste in Seattle either. We need to get there before the target leaves New York for Hidey-Hole, Whereever."

[HMHVV Hunter]

"Huh?" Helios says, confused. "Ok, which team's 'Hammer' and which one's 'Anvil?'"

[Ecclesiastes]

Bishop looks over to Edana, "Why don't we just take your friend up on his offer to smuggle all of us? It costs a lot, but its worth it."

[HeySparky]

Edana's jaw drops. That's one entire share of the bounty. Though if it's our only real option... She bites her lip, "Thanks Townsend, I'll talk to my team and call you back. Later." She hangs up and nods at Bishop.

"It's a good option. And if we impress this guy we may be able to use him in the future. Couldn't hurt. And it'll be easier than getting out by more... conventional methods."

She scratches behind a twisting horn, "Uh... I'm short most of my share of the flight. I'll need to borrow it until we bring Ballefour in."