Living in the Shadows: IC, Jan 8th-14th Options

[grendel]

19:00:02 Monday, 08 January 2063 - McHugh's #608, 3075 Westbrook Lane, Seattle, UCAS

Shard nodded in response to Dragon's question as if he'd been expecting it.

"I am so equipped: ranged, area effect. I'm not a stand up and fight kind of guy, though, so don't expect to see me in the thick of things, dusting it up."

He glanced at his companion, who shrugged.

"Yeah, I can do non-lethal, too. Right now the LMG is loaded with explosive frangible so I might not be able to get gel in time."

[grendel]

23:11:29 Saturday, 13 January 2063 - Boston, MA, UCAS

The room was dark, lit only by a couple of LED glowstrips on the dresser. Pathan liked it that way, it was more comfortable for his eyes. He lay in bed, his left arm pillowed behind his head while Jeannie curled naked next to him, her head on his chest, eyes closed and resting after their most recent coupling. Already, though, his mind was ticking over the execution of the plan. It was relentless, he couldn't help himself. Two and a half years of careful planning were coming to a head. Soon. Three more days. And then....

Pathan smiled in the darkness, no longer tired.

"Are you really going to do it?" whispered Jeannie. He glanced down to find her eyes on him, liquid blue in the near-darkness of the room. He nodded, watching as she chewed on her bottom lip.

"People are going to die, though. Many people."

Pathan shrugged. "So be it. When you are giving birth to something, there has to be pain. The act of creation is often, equally, the act of destruction. The Hindu's understood this very well when they created a goddess who's dance created and destroyed the world at the same time."

"But why?" pressed Jeannie.

"Because I love you," replied Pathan. She blinked in some surprise, not expecting those words from him. He smiled.

"I love you so much that I want to make the world a better place for you. I don't want to see you live your life every day as a slave to the established order. I don't want you to be just a number, just a statistic for the corporations. So because I love you so much, I'm going to make a new world for you. One where everyone is equal. Where no one has power over another, where wealth doesn't matter, and where people can finally be happy." As he spoke, he brought his right hand up so he could stroke her cheek. His left had slipped beneath the pillow to find the Colt Manhunter he always kept there. Jeannie gave him a quizzical look, not quite believing him, but conflicted in her emotions. He smiled.

"Do you know what the meaning of love is, baby?" he asked.

"I know what it means to me," she whispered, smiling softly. "What does it mean to you?"

"Sacrifice," Pathan replied, matter of factly, and shot her in the head.

[bclements]

01:49:21 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

Conversation stopped at Leo’s remark, and in another time and place the various sets of eyes tracing Leo’s hand motion toward the window would have been enough to pull a smile on the Russian vets face. The apparent mage sitting on the couch began to stare intently at the small drone on the window until Anatoly snapped his fingers. “Demtri, call Misha. You, do your job for once,� the Vor said to the muscle as he got up and moved out of the line of sight of the windows. The not-worthy-to-be-named muscle drew a Predator from his cheap suit jacket and advanced to the window.

01:49:21 Thursday, 11 January 2063-15015 E Roy St. Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

Shit Gar thought. Pitching her voice to carry back to the cargo area, she yelled “Isir, games up. Unless you have enough to buy me another one by tonight…�

“Get it out of there,� Isir said, slipping out the earpiece that had been numbing his ear and shifting a little on the hard metal bench that lined one side of the interior of the Bulldog. A more muted “Roger,� came from the front seat. “She’s not kidding either, we’ll have to move tonight if we want that container. How long do you think he’ll hold out?� he asked the ork across to him, balancing on the narrow jumpseat between the sliding door and the drone racks behind the wire cage; Gar hadn’t ever bothered to put back in the main seating after ripping it out to install the racks in the back and only put in the Spartan seating when Tory had threatened to shoot down the mini-blimp the next time she brought it out.

Tory shrugged. “Harsh language? Surprised that fat fragger didn’t tell them already. That guy you hired might be the only thing keeping him in one piece,� he said, working his feet and shoulders to work off the twichiness and frustration at the overall situation. “So, we goin’ with Plan B then?� the ork asked.

One time, high on a successful job, Long Haul, and as drunk as one could get while on that vile hookah on good, real Scotch, sitting at a molded plastic desk at whatever shithole doss he’d managed to find for the next few days to hole up in, Isir had tried to calculate up exactly how much each one of them owed each other. Gar, bitch that she could be, didn’t ask for more than she and the team needed to get more and better jobs, and all of them realized the utility that she brought. Tory, with all of his terseness and ‘screw-you-I’m-going-to-shoot-someone’ rhetoric, had bailed them out in enough cock-ups and general drek that none of them begrudged this or that cyberlimb repair or replacement, or ammo when it came to that. His own training and…issues were mostly paid out of his own earnings, but when money was needed, none of them had an issue with coming up with the cred to pay a bribe to whoever was asking for it.

He did the deals that kept Gar in drones and Tory in ammo, and all four in good health, drink, and hot soy. He did the deals to get to the people that got the drones, cyber, surgery, initiation for Rod and himself. For the most part, his demons were ones that lived in his dreams, and he could no more avenge his parents than slay a dragon barehanded. That Simone had a good education as far away from his life as possible was enough for him.

All good things…

Isir sighed. He didn’t want to cut Rod loose, and still thought that (when he wasn’t in debt or trying to get into debt) a great asset to the team but it was a lot easier to get another mage than to put together another team right now. Isir pulled out his psec and started dialing Zedya’s drop. Better chance with him than with Nas

“Yep. Plan B.� Isir said quietly to Tory. “Got a little manpower issue Z…� he said into the phone.


01:51:01 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

About the time that everyone had registered that yes, there was a drone on the window, it released the suction microphone arm from the window and began crawling up the pockmarked limestone structure. The muscle hauled on the window to lift it, but a hundred years of paint, caulk and sealant over the window defeated him. He was about to punch through the glass when Anatoly yelled for him to stop.

“Check the roof you fool,� he said. Dimitry broke in from the couch. “The blimp’s moving toward the roof. Want Misha shoot it down?� the mage said.

“Nyet, have him meet Nikoli on the roof,� Anatoly said to the man on the couch. He then turned his attention to Roderick. “Fine friends you have, keeping tabs on you like that. Almost like they don’t trust you, eh? If they don’t trust you enough to mind your own business without help, do you think they’ll trust you with their share of the money?�

“If I give you this, I’m paid up, right?� Roderick said. Leo could tell from his posture that the drone surveillance had more angered him, and Anatoly’s line of reasoning finally seemed to hit home.

“If want you say is in there is actually in there? Yes. Clean. Welcomed back with open arms,� Anatoly said somberly.

[Morgannah]

20:09:13 Friday 12 January 2063 - 372 W Lexington Ave, Pomona, CFS

Cosmo smiled to herself as she watched the teenagers pile out of the limousine. She knew how they felt, the giddy excitement of the girls, all grown up and glamorous, and the nervous anticipation of the boys that were wondering how grown up their dates really were. One of the couples held hands on the way inside.

That soft secret smile of hers broadened as the limousine circled around to join a line of fancy cars in the rear parking lot.

Perfect.

She exhaled and started her motorcycle, glad that the driver had opted to stay near the school. Now it was only a matter of leaving the Suzuki on a side street and approaching the parking lot on foot. Cosmo took her time finding a nice concealed spot for the bike, giving the drivers plenty of time to get comfortable in their cars before she slipped around behind the school and crouched near the fence.

[Scrapheap]

01:00:11 Wednesday, 10 January, 2063 - A Warehouse in the Barrens

With one last glance around the corner to verify the position of the hostiles, John looked back to where his niece lay on the catwalk with her arms covering her head. "Ok, here we go. I'm gonna stand and make for the stairs, layin' down cover as we go. You two," and here he nodded to Lady Dove, "wait a sec and follow. Got it?" Without waiting he added, "If any of those fraggers try and stop us, I'll peel off and deal with 'em. You two just run for the stairs." It wasn't much of a plan, but the longer they waited, the worse their situation was likely to get.

He didn't wait to be acknowledged; couldn't spare the time. Steeling himself, he brought the Ingram to his shoulder, pivoted around the corner and stood in one motion. "Now," he said. Squeezing the trigger, he began to move towards the stairs as quickly as he could.

[grendel]

20:31:07 Friday 12 January 2063 - 372 W Lexington Ave, Pomona, CFS

Cosmo slipped through the last line of trees separating the houses from the athletic fields of the high school. She'd ditched the bike on one of the many small streets that wove their way through the development before cutting across several yards, making her way back to the school. Pausing at the edge of the only good cover for seventy five meters, she glanced around. At this hour on a Friday, no one was out and about, not to mention the fact that all eyes should be focused on the events transpiring at the school itself. She set off across the soccer field at a quick trot.

The fenceline surrounding the school yard was, despite its functionality, more decorative than anything else. Not electrified, not equipped with sensors, not topped by razorwire or monowire, it was one of the easiest physical obstacles Cosmo had ever negotiated. Wedging her left foot in between two of the iron uprights, she pulled herself smoothly to the point where she could swing a leg over, before pivoting and dropping to the ground on the other side in one fluid motion.

Now came the hard part. The parking lot itself was under camera surveillance, but the security system was designed to prevent the kind of casual teenage hooliganism that seemed so popular, rather than to deter an actual trained professional such as herself. She kept the bulk of the idling limousines between her and the cameras, moving in a slow crouch along the line of parked vehicles until she found the one she was looking for. Scanning again for anyone watching, she dropped to her back and wormed her way slowly beneath the undercarriage of the vehicle. Reaching into her satchel, she brought out one of the demo charges supplied by the Kalds. The diagram hung in the air in front of her gaze, masked at forty percent so she could follow the instructions precisely. Peeling the protective layer off the kleen-tac backing, she reached far up int o the guts of the vehicle before pressing the charge firmly against the fuel tank of the limo. A simple flick of the switch armed the receiver and she was done.

The door to the limo opened. Cosmo froze. First one foot, then another appeared as the driver stepped out, leaving the vehicle running. A lighter clicked in the night and she heard the long exhalation peculiar to smokers. Voices called from nearby.

"Hey man, what's up? Stuck running the kids around too, eh?"

"Yeah, but there's this sweet little blonde in my group...."

"Give it up, you're old enough to be her father you perv."

"If she's eighteen it doesn't make much difference, does it?"

Cosmo crawled silently from beneath the limo, retracing her steps towards the fenceline.

One down, four to go.

[Cthulhu449]

01:51:52 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

Events were developing along an unexpected course, and Leo wasn’t yet sure how he was going to try to use the situation to his benefit. The first problem was the question of the drones’ origin. If the Vory was right, and it made sense that he was, then Rod’s “friends� knew the score. Perhaps more importantly it was apparent that Rod had determined the score himself, his eyes telling a clear story of suspected betrayal. The added incentive of paying off old debts was just too much for the down-on-his-luck man to resist, and there was no doubt that his decision had already been made. That placed Leo in a bit of a divided position. His job was to protect the mage, but Isir was paying him, and it was unlikely that Isir would happily accept an interpretation of Leo’s job that involved stealing this cargo container, whatever it might contain.

Still, Leo’s sense of loyalty tugged him toward the mage’s side, impelled further by the fact that Roderick would almost certainly end up fragged if left to go it alone. That situation would be preferable to avoid altogether. Afterwards, Leonid would make sure the grey eyed Vory didn’t live long enough to use the stolen goods. Leo’s lip curled up at the corner, smiling as he stared with empty eyes at his folded hands on the table, considering in intricate detail how he would take the Russian apart piece by piece.

He pulled himself away from the brief trance, only barely registering the unfamiliar nature of his own thoughts in the back of his mind, before returning to the matters at hand.

“Help,� Leo said to the table in front of him, causing the others in the room to glance at him questioningly. He lifted his eyes and tilted his head a bit, but gazed at nothing in particular before continuing, “Roderick will need help if you really want your container, and I’m the only one around to do it,�

When in enemy territory, Leo thought to himself, let the enemy equip you.

“I’m a bodyguard; I didn’t sign on for any operations beyond that, but if you really want what’s in that thing, if you want it done and done right, then you’ll want me to help him, because he sure as frag can’t do it alone." Leo paused, nodding his head softly for storytelling effect, before continuing, "Fortunately I am willing to take on the work. All it will cost you is one Ingram, some ammo, and one of those Secure-Tec jackets,� he nodded to one of the coats worn by the “muscle� before finally making eye contact with the grey-eyed Vory. “Cheapest Russian officer you ever bought,� Leo said.

[WinterRat1]

01:00:10 Wednesday, 10 January, 2063 - A Warehouse in the Barrens

It was like a brief moment of calm before the storm. As Scrapheap leaned against the wall, calmly changing clips, and Max ran towards the stairs, praying desperately he'd manage to avoid getting shot again, the old street samurai took a moment to look around. Various members of the opposition were trying to climb back to the second floor to get back in the fight, and it looked like the shotgunner was reloading himself, with his SMG-toting partner taking a position behind cover near the stairs.

Meanwhile, as the force of Alleycat's command washed over the mercenary, he immediately tossed his SMG over to her. Coming to his senses moments later, he immediately goes for his sidearm and backpedals away from her, towards his friend stuck on the shelving unit below them.

Catching the gun easily, and recognizing the odds could very quickly turn against her, she turns and runs towards the edge of the catwalk, first leaping onto the railing and then flying out into space. She hangs for what seems to be a very long time indeed, then her hand closes over one of the rappelling lines whipping around and she swings, her momentum carrying her back to the middle catwalk. She lets go just as her body is over the catwalk, but she slightly misjudges her landing and starts skidding towards the north edge of the catwalk, and close to possibly careening over the edge. Dropping prone into a slide, her hand grasps at the ground, stopping her slide and bringing her to a halt just outside the smoke cloud, to the north.

From there, she's in perfect position to see Lady Dove banish the Fire Spirit which had come down to engage the Water Spirit in Astral Combat, attacking it ineffectually before departing, freed from its summoners' control. The box was still closing in around them, but they had a breather. For the moment.

[Cedric Rolfsson]

19:00:35 Monday January 8, 2063; McHughs Restaurant; Westbrook Lane Seattle UCAS

Erebus tried to evaluate the pair of runners but he lacked enough information to get a real read on them, in the end it'd have to come down to his faith that Elan wouldn't work with less than competent runners. He addressed the mage, guessing that he'd be the more expensive of the two but made sure they understood his question was for both runners.

"Fine, we'll need your services for 24 hours, starting immediately. Combat is definite. What's the cost?"

He knew his funds were sufficient, but he was worried about the dent this was going to make.

[grendel]

19:01:06 Monday, 08 January 2063 - McHugh's #608, 3075 Westbrook Lane, Seattle, UCAS

Shard glanced once at Bridger before replying with a frankness that tells both Erebus and Dragon that they've briefed this kind of operation before.

"Five thousand nuyen each, half up front, plus ammo expended."

[bclements]

01:51:57 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

Anatoly smiled, the grinning smile of a large cat that has ensnared prey. Leo knew it, and knew that it was coming from the conversation.

"Mr. Denisov, I must say," Anatoly said in a low voice, leaning in to make sure he wasn't overheard and still with the same lilting Russian accented English ",that you are not what I expected: Roderick is not a man that deems such a bodyguard. The goods you ask, you'll have as soon as you leave, merely as a measure of my respect."

Looking over to the couch, he said to the mage, "Dimitry, go up there, keep that blimp from leaving. Leave something for me as well." Dimitry looked to argue, but sat up heavily from the sofa and, pausing to bow his head and chant a few words, left, slamming the door.


01:52:08 Thursday, 11 January 2063-15015 E Roy St. Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

Fly you fraggin’ hot air bag, fly Gar thought, mentally maneuvering the LTA ship down out of sight behind the AC unites of another building as a few other people appeared on the roof of that goddamn turncoat’s building.


01:52:29 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

“That should make sure nothing untoward occurs. Now, Mr. Denisov, what exactly is your plan for taking this shipping container out of the Port and to me? I ask only because I’ve made a good sized team on order for this, as the cargo is valuable and the Port facilities are reasonably secure,� the Vory man said, actually looking interested in the answer, still with a Cheshire-cat psudo-smile on his face.

[Cedric Rolfsson]

19:01:00 Monday January 9, 2063- McHughs Restaurant; Westbrook Lane; Seattle UCAS

Erebus thought about it for a couple of seconds, he really didn't have much of a bargaining position.

"Agreed. We'll need to set up, locate the package, recover the package, then fade the heat. It'll all have to happen within the next 24 hours or the recover window closes. When can you have your gear ready?"

The elf looked over at Dragon trying to figure out how much to reveal about the mission to these two. His own involvement smacks of desperation, he had the impression that the other warrior would've handled the matter himself if he could've, and the decker was clearly emotionally involved with the mission. He'd only known Dragon for a day now, he knew next to nothing about the man and trying to figure out what he was thinking or feeling by watching his face was like trying to catch the wind in your hands. He would have to count on Dragon to take the lead in dispensing information.

[grendel]

19:02:28 Monday, 08 January 2063 - McHugh's #608, 3075 Westbrook Lane, Seattle, UCAS

"One hour," replied Bridger before Shard can answer. The elf glances over at his companion but doesn't voice his question. They're both ready to roll, but make no pretense of moving yet. Money still has to be exchanged, as do communications frequencies and network protocols. Not to mention the additional details of the task that had been hinted about beforehand.

[Cedric Rolfsson]

19:02:35 Monday January 8, 2063 - McHugh's #608- Seattle UCAS

Moving casually and slowly to make sure there were no mistakes about what he was doing Erebus slid one hand into his jacket to where he'd stashed the certified credsticks representing most of the liquid assets he possessed in the world and pulled out two sticks worth 5K each. He put them on the table between him and the other runners and removed his hand, letting them sit there.

"The cred isn't a problem."

[grendel]

19:03:07 Monday, 08 January 2063 - McHugh's #608, 3075 Westbrook Lane, Seattle, UCAS

Bridger selects one of the credsticks and pockets it, the ghost of a smile on his lips.

"Half up front, friend. Save the rest for later. Tell the lady there to open up your network and we'll pass our information and comm freqs."

Erebus glances at Sybersnake then at Dragon. Dragon glances at Sybersnake, who shrugs, and gestures with an AR-enhanced hand. The smile on Bridger's face widens to something genuine, and two new nodes pop up on the network. Something passes between the two hackers, and for a moment Dragon sees the tension ease somewhat in Sybersnake's posture.

[WinterRat1]

19:03:46 Monday, 08 January 2063 - McHugh's #608, 3075 Westbrook Lane, Seattle, UCAS

After the transfer of information back and forth has been completed, Dragon says, "We have prepared a complete mission dossier on the target, operational plan, all pertinent reconnaissance to date and individual responsibilities. Please look it over and let us know if you have any questions."

He doesn't look at Sybersnake as he speaks. He doesn't have to. He knows the hacker was already sending the other two runners the information before he even finished talking.

He waits quietly for them to peruse the information and see if they have any questions.

[grendel]

19:08:11 Monday, 08 January 2063 - McHugh's #608, 3075 Westbrook Lane, Seattle, UCAS

"Aztechnology, eh?" Bridger leans back in his chair, eyes staring into the distance while his fingers drummed on the table. He'd finished reading through the material compiled by Sybersnake in only a couple of minutes, while Shard was taking longer. Dragon got the impression that the stocky man was used to digesting a large amount of data via AR or VR input.

"Five against a hangar full of guards plus a mobile security team? Let's hope that we're as good as we think we are." Bridger grins at Shard, who smirks in response, a tension underlying the humor. The two men, though, seem more than ready to execute the tasks assigned to them in the plan.

[Cthulhu449]

01:52:16 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

"Why hire another team, when one will already do your work for you?" Leo asked, looking purposefully at Roderick at his side. Play along, he thought at the mage, hoping Rod wouldn't have a sudden case of suicidal loyalty, it doesn't matter what we end up doing, just don't say amything stupid.

Leo turned back to the Vory, "Rod's previous business partners had a plan already, he knows what it is, and they must be in a hurry now. People in a hurry make mistakes. They'll expect you to act quickly, in force; instead a small force will play it slow and use their quickness against them, taking what they have after it is extracted. Minimal risk to everyone involved. I don't forsee any great difficulty; no offense to my client, but his friends only have skills comparable to his own, in their individual fields."

[bclements]

01:53:02 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

Rod was on the verge of opening his mouth as Leo pitched the plan, but the steel-eyed Russian’s glance snapped his lips sealed. Rod knew that this was probably his best chance to get out from under, and going back to Isir, Gar and Tory after this wasn’t an option now, not after they’d been listening in on most of the conversation.

Anatoly paused for a moment to consider, but not too long; Leo knew the kinds of buttons to press on these people, and how to press those buttons for advantage in this situtation. “You make an interesting proposal, Mr. Denisov, though I would underestimate Roderick’s team at your own risk.

Which it will be, your risk� the Vor said, smile more genuine than before. “So, you retrieve this container for me, and Roderick’s slate is clean, and you get…a percentage of the value of what is in that container. Agreed? And would there be anything else you would need for this plan?� Anatoly asked.

[Cthulhu449]

01:53:30 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

"A decent commlink, if you have one - or at least one that works," Leo answered, used another sideways look to ask Rod if there was anything else he thought they might require. "I'll contact you as soon as we've secured the crate, or an intermediary if you prefer, just provide the information, though I'm sure you'll manage to be kept well informed of the situation as it develops."

Leo pushed his chair out, and stood in one slow motion. "Any other stipulations are yours to make, but that should prove enough on our end."

He waited, fingertips lighly pressed against the table as he waited for Rod to stand and the Vory to answer.

[bclements]

01:54:10 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

Anatoly bared his teeth again in the imitation-smile just before the heavies burst back into the room, huffing with exertion after running back down the stairs from the roof. Leo could tell by the almost child-like expressions of accomplishment on their faces that they’d been at least somewhat successful.

01:53:30 Thursday, 11 January 2063-15015 E Roy St. Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

Tory almost banged his head against the short roof the van, getting to his feet as soon as he heard Gar slump against the window. She quickly started a full on wail as soon as the ork could reach her.

�They got Billy� was all that Tory could make out for a minute in between the sobs and tears. Grabbing her body out of the seat and trying to console her as much as possible while wrangling her back to the cargo area, he lightly nodded his head to the front. Isir moved to the driver’s seat of the van, pulling it out into traffic as Tory gently rocked Gar as she sobbed into his shoulder “,bastards killed Billy, fraggers are going to pay for killing Billy�, over and over again.

01:54:15 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

�Got it loaded into the car, boss, made sure it was powered off. Maybe Danik can make use of it� Misha said in Russian. Leo, used to the culture and the language, could almost see the pride beaming off of him.

“Spaisba. Toss me your spare ‘link,� Anatoly said. The pride that had be eminating from him vanished as he patted the cheap suit’s pockets for something other than a gun or the commlink he had been issued.

“Ok, any of you with a spare, give it to me.� Dimitry pulled out a slim, ebony phone from a hip pocket and tossed it to the Vor. Anatoly powered it on and looked at it for a moment, passed an approving glance to the mage, and tossed it onto Leo.

“As you can see, it’s a bit hard to outfit our people with a spare commlink, though your errand may prove to make that easier in the future. That phone has my personal number in it; feel free to call as you must. As someone of your…stature knows, however, I only expect contact if you have my container for me or if you are in exceptional need of assistance,� Anatoly said in the lightly Russian accented English he’d used for most of the conversation with Leo.

“If there’s nothing further…� he said, walking toward the door with his entourage it tow.

[Cthulhu449]

01:59:23 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

Leo and Rod made their way to the black sports car outside, opened the doors, and threw themselves inside. Rod got the engine going, revving the gas engine a few pulses while Leo took the chance to initiate conversation while the mage's mind was still sifting through the encounter. There wasn't time for panicked or angry time-wasting. Situating himself, he slipped the jacket he had been given on, and holstered the Ingram in one of the pockets of the long jacket.

"I need to know everything that you know about the run your team was about to do," Leo told his companion as he pulled the new commlink from his pocket. He flicked the power on and began sifting through whatever data he could find on it, mindful of any harmful programs that might turn up. "Who would be the members of the team, their skills, what the transport plans would be, who they are working for, and what is in that container." Leo continued to keep his attention on the comm screen, until, temporarily satisfied, he powered it down, popped the casing and scanned the insides for any conspicuous internal electronics.

"The more information you can recall, the better the chance that we can make this work out best for us, and as poorly as possible for our other friends back there."

As the car began to roll and Rod collected himself, Leonid popped the commlink back together and powered it on once again. He would have to take time to sift through any potential data later, slipping it into another pocket and exchanging it for the weapon on the opposite side to give it a similar once over.

[bclements]

02:02:04 Thursday, 11 January 2063-1878 N. Boylston Ave., Downtown, Seattle, UCAS
“I still can’t believe we’re doing this…� Roderick said under his breath over and over again, shaking his sweat beaded head while navigating the car down the narrow side streets of Capitol Hill: the houses, half the courtyards/parking lots of purpose built Neo-Modern apartment homes and the other half the backsides of fin de siècle high end houses with epoxyed staircases in various degrees of repair marking them as converts after the war made Seattle what it stood as today flying in a multi colored blur past them.

Leo caught himself a few times pressing into the floorboard for the brake pedal of the Z-M as Roderick fishtailed around slushy wet corners and slid to stops at cross streets tossing roostertails and forward slush onto the sidewalks; the drone streetplows having thrown the snow and the occasional misparked Jackrabbit or Comet toward the parking zones on the side of the street before the IceMelter trucks passed though. A dizzying wheel yank brought them out of the warren of backalleys and cross street stopsigns onto Broadway, just before Denny. Roderick gunned it just as Leo made sure his seat belt was tight, shooting across the intersection right in front of a metro transit bus, skidding into a McHugh’s.

02:10:07 Thursday, 11 January 2063-Corner of E. Denny and Broadway, Downtown, Seattle, UCAS
Roderick leaned into his seat, head back against the headrest and thumbs massaging his eyes. “We were getting a container; they didn’t trust me with the whole plan but I saw enough to get the idea. Security’s reasonably tight at the port, but Gar found a backdoor into the system; she’s supposed to do overwatch with that blimp Anatoly’s guys shot down and keep the automated patrols redirected,� he said softly, still slumped tiredly back into the seat.

“She figured that we had about a ten minute window to get it. Tory and Isir mapped out the hauler routes, and I was supposed to get the container on the trailer and do astral overwatch. I think Isir had rounded up a truck from somewhere to get it off the yard; I don’t know who Isir was selling to, but we were supposed to get about ¥25 grand apiece from it by the next day. I don’t even know what’s in it except that it’s not organic and it’s worth some good nuyen,� Roderick said as tiredly as he looked.

[Cthulhu449]

02:10:07 Thursday, 11 January 2063-Corner of E. Denny and Broadway, Downtown, Seattle, UCAS

"We might have to do some waiting, watch the container until they make their move - unless you know of a time limit they were operating under, that could narrow our window a bit." Leo nodded his head, thinking, not really focusing his eyes on anything in particular as he considered what information was available. "My goal is to keep you alive, it's what I was paid to do, but I need to know what you are bringing to the table. You were in charge of moving the container? I gather you have telekinetic spell that was to help you in this, or something else?"

The restaurant's central heat kicked in, covering up the two men's conversation as it wooshed to full power. At the front of the store, an older ork wiped down the counter, poorly disguising an obvious interest in the ongoing discussion, or anything other than his job at hand for that matter. Leo tried to give the worker a "mind-your-own-business" look of annoyance that wound up much more deadpan than intended, but the unexpected attention had the desired effect and the ork suddenly found a stubborn spot to occupy his full attention.

"If they don't have time to bring another mage in, we have a strong advantage," Leo continued, resuming his head nod, keeping to the subconscious beat of blood in his veins, "helping to exploit that aspect will be your job. I'll be able to get the truck if you can offer a few tricks. I still think they'll be on an accelerated timeline now that they are found out; the sooner we can start watching the docks the better," Leo finished, jabbing his finger in the direction of the Z-M parked off-kilter across two spots just outside the large glass windows.

"If you have any problems with this, speak your mind now. I don't plan on hurting your, hmm, "friends", but you need to be fully invested in what we're about to do."

[Cedric Rolfsson]

20:21:04 Monday January 08, 2063; Low Rent Apartment #313

Erebus looked around the dingy two bedroom apartment and shrugged, he'd seen worse. At least the place had a quick access point to the roof half a floor up and a window overlooking the river to the south. The cost to rent it for the next two days had been minimal and they hadn't asked any questions, just looked funny and Sybersnake and Dragon and he when they walked in. He figured extra heavy 'damage deposit' was as good as gone.

"Well," the Elf warrior said over his shoulder to Dragon, "this ought to do as a staging station. Let's get things set up."