Hitting the ground hard, both of the gangers scramble to their feet. With a look towards their fallen companions, the two turn with obvious reluctance and dash off into the darkness, ducking around the edge of the building.

Silence reigns for a brief moment. It's broken by the grinding slide of metal on metal as a rolling grate slams closed over the office front of MJM Services. Behind the pseudo-glass windows, Tank gives everyone a smile and a thumbs up before turning and disappearing back into the office space.

The next obvious sound is a the slam of a car door as the Westwind smoothly pulls out of the parking lot and begins to accelerate away.

An ARO depicting a small mail icon with WSC in flowing script in the corner causes commlinks to chime softly.

<<Kukyo.>>

Congratulations. Assuming none of the gangers die of lingering wounds, everything seems to have gone smoothly. Your first assignment is as follows:

Location: 4776 Coral Creek Parkway SE - Ikeda Research Facility

Goal: To obtain the following research files and material. <<attached is a list of files and several prototypes for a carbon nanotube cybernetic implant, similar to dermal sheathing.>> Destroy the originals.

Situation: Ikeda suspects a leak and/or incompetence in the security of a high level research lab located in Newcastle. In order to test the response of the security team and secure important information, we are to run a mock "shadowrun" against the facility, and obtain the information and materials related to their research, and return these to the parent corporation. We are to destroy any other copies to prevent the leak from releasing that information to competitors.

Restrictions: Minimal collateral damage. Zero fatalities. Moderate casualties allowed. Extraction must occur with 7 days.

Special Notes: Since the security system at the location is heavily Matrix oriented, a second Computer Security Expert will be assigned to your team to assist with infiltration / retrieval. Expect contact with the next 24 hours.

"Run! Run! Job's done!" pitched and projected with his will, Gregor waited with external calm as events unfolded.

As the assailants receded, he strode over to the fallen giant bleeding on the asphalt, and after a swift poke of his cane, sniffed and looked around at everyone.

From an inner pocket of his jacket the ork pulled out a slim silky white patch with bright red cross. Holding it up he asked, "Anyone else want to get their hands dirty?"

As the pair fall, Atreus springs silently to his feet and roots for a moment looking to the ground between the pair. His hands are open and his arms relaxed, but in defensible positions. He stands frozen, watching them with his peripheral vision looking for further danger.

As the duo scamper away, he backs away. You are not safe until you are truly out of harms way. The words of one of his childhood Senseis echo in his mind to remind him that it is not over until you are home safe and sound.

As the rest of the team begin to gather and insure none of the gangers perish, Atreus begins to feel the mild drain from his short term enhanced strength and agility. A small price to pay... A very small price.

With Sweetness being the only member of the team he knows from previous runs, he walks over to the ork. "I take it he'll live?" he says gesturing to the troll.

A shudder passes through Vertigo's body as she drops the invisibility spell on Kukyo. She wanders out from behind a car, holstering her pistol as she goes, and assessing the downed gangers.

"I think I'll invest in a medkit or two before we start this next assignment. Keeping people alive might be the hardest part of this job..."

She smiles at Gregor and Atreus.

With a raised eyebrow Gregor replies to the question, "I doubt it."

Sighing he lowers himself to one knee and holds the package up to read the instructions.

"Ah, it needs to be applied directly to the skin. Would you be so kind as to unzip that bit there? Near his chest."

"Well, 'people' would include us as well..."

Vertigo gives Gregor a wink and bends to help him with the ganger's clothing.

Atreus is pretty sure the young, hispanic woman is the woman he saw with his brother, Ammon, at the expo. As he squats down to assist Sweetness, he replies to her. "I think simply buying our gun bunny gel rounds would go a long ways towards negating the problem."

He unzips the clothing and looks towards the rest of the team and the downed gangers thinking. We need to spend some time coordinating. This was sloppy, but at least it was only a few street gangers.
"Anybody know the scan on the Johnsons? Destroy the originals? Smells like a real run to me...."

Gregor fastidiously flattened the packet and pressed it down on a bare piece of troll flesh. He pulled a tab string, and the packet began bulging and reshaping itself to conform to the thick armored epidermis.

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble...

Standing up and brushing off his knees, the ork smiled, "Thank you."

Tapping his waistcoat pocket, "There is a message then?" A quick glance down into the pocket confirmed his guess. The message light blinked discretely.

Ignoring the message light for the moment, the ork waved his left hand in the air over the troll. Without a sound a dark 33 cm tall bat winged imp appeared hovering two meters in the air over the grounded troll.

"Inform me immediately if this one crosses over within the next hour!" gleefully the imp dropped down and perched on the trolls shoulder, then faded away.

"A drink?" he asked everyone.

Vertigo watches curiously as the little imp disappears. Hmmm... this Gregor seems to have a way with spirits. That will come in very handy...

She nods. "Wonderful idea! But lets make it someplace far from here. Any suggestions?"

She turns back to the familiar looking elf. And Atreus seems to have close combat covered...

"I agree it sounds a little... off. If the files and tech are mock ups that would be one thing, but it would be odd for a company to part with real swag for a 'security simulation'." She pauses... Probably best not to discuss these details in the current surroundings...

"You down for a drink or two, Atreus? Finn? McCoy?"

He continues to look around as they talk. Several years in the shadows and his uncle's betrayal has made him paranoid. Perhaps Ammon has done something foolish like returning to the Tir to set a few things right...... Another foolish decision on his part if he did... and one that will create a second reason for me to someday return... He pushed those thoughts of a not so far away place out of his mind. Dwelling on them would only spoil his mood and despite the slop, they had done well today.

Atreus stands with the duo. "A drink. Yes, I think we are due for one of two of those. This has been a long day..."

"I'm afraid my limo driver refused to endanger his vehicle, quite rightly it appears, and we must move quickly from here."

With a curt nod the ork starts walking towards the street.

"My bike's over there-" gesturing across the parking lot, "If you don't mind riding bitch."

With a smile of amusement, Gregor changes his course, 'Lead on.'

With a few quick key strokes on her commlink, Vertigo calls up her bike from the back of the parking lot.

"Lead the way boys, I'll follow."

Not having all the fancy mods on his bike, Atreus walks across the lot to his bike and starts it with a press on the starter switch. Looking at the rest of the team, he takes a moment to think about the a place where they can all get a drink and maybe a bite nearby where they would blend in. He remembers the perfect spot he was at just six weeks ago.....

McCoy jacks out from the matrix, having acquired a rather fortunate account.

"Sure, and if someone can give me a ride I'm buying. "

On a certain ganger's tab. It was unlikely he'd have money once the hospital got through with it, so best to loot while the sun shines.
This second matrix guy was a worry though. Was he being set as expendable. He'd have to keep an eye out.

"McCoy, you're with me."

Moving with purpose, Finn crosses the parking lot to his car. He opens it manually, unlocks the doors and heads to the trunk. Changing his shirt and jacket, the armored vest beneath everything becomes obvious. The sniper slides a gauze pad beneath the vest to staunch the bleeding and puts on a new set of press flats. These ones would be incinerated when he got home.

With the hacker in the car, Finn gets behind the wheel and follows the go-gang of runners on their way to the bar. As they are driving, McCoy quickly notices that the other man drives manually. No grid-guide, no computers.

The bar is, as advertised, fairly clean and obviously set up to provide privacy. The interior is filled with booths, each sporting a 3/4 wall between it and the one next to it. Most of the booths and tables are well worn wood, and a lingering odor of cigar smoke is present, but not overwhelming. Interestingly enough, there's no advertisement outside, either physical or AR, that indicates the locations presence. Just a solid wooden door. Those who can perceive or recognize the feeling will notice the quick shiver of cold that you get passing through some astral construct.

A central bar in a long rectangle divides the room into roughly two parts. Manning the bar, currently actually cleaning a glass by hand, is a female troll. As the group of you enter the bar, she glances up briefly, and then turns back to a conversation she's having with a slim, tres chic suited elven woman sitting at the bar. As the conversation ends, the elven woman turns, nodding towards you as she heads across the bar to a door marked "Office". The trolless behind the bar gives the group of you another look, lingering longer on Finn then the rest of you. She points over her shoulder with one thumb, at an engraved wooden sign that says:

Mac's
Neutral, Extraterritorial Ground

Several booths are open, the bar can't be more then half full. One near the door, one near the back of the bar, and one of several free standing booths scattered around the bar.

Atreus chuckles inside to himself. I knew that guy was gonna draw trouble out like a magnet...

He spies an empty table enough for the team and lays claim to it by siting down. He opens up a team-net using the software Porter had installed on his com so they can interact about the run over coms while they hold more trivial conversations in the mundane about combat biking and the like.

<<@Team [Atreus] So as to just throw a strawman out, here goes. How about we start with getting alternate wheels?
McCoy - Can you hack a rental company or something and get us a van for a few days?
We can then perform a drive by on the facility. That will give Sweetness and myself a chance for at least a cursory glance at the astral, McCoy a chance to lock in on any localized wireless signals and the rest of us a look at obvious physical security measures.
We can make a second run by at 7:50am. That will allow us the ability to see what type of activity occurs at the start of a wage-slave day.
Anybody have contacts to get floor plans? Find out about more details about exactly what business they do there?
As to angles to get physically onsite.. I know that the cleaning crew angle is way over played and cliche, but it is tried and true. If not that, we could cause a disruption in electrical power then intercept the service call and go in as the repair crew. A third option is of course to use wifi dampeners and a tactical assault...>>

He provides the last option half as a little jab at Finn, half seriously.

The suit from earlier exits the "Office" door and begins walking towards the bar. At a nod from the barkeep in your direction, she changes course to arrive at your table.

"Hello, gentleman, I'm Mac." she says, flashing you a gorgeous smile. The tall, slender, perfectly proportioned elf is wearing a business suit that accentuated every one of her body's positive qualities without coming off as cheap or easy.

"While we appreciate your company, you will need to actually buy something if you're going to take up a table. As long as your drinking, take as long as you like. You have complete privacy. If you want an external link, just connect here." A flashing ARO of an old fashioned jackpoint appears beside her.

Her piece apparently said, she turns to continue strolling across the bar, heading out the door with a nod to the bartroll.

Atreus looks Mac over, quickly so as to avoid the leering ganger stereotype, before looking back around the table and then back to her. He starts to reply, but is cut off as she curtly heads for the door. So much for first impressions....

Gesturing to the bartroll, "A round all round." he says, gesturing in a circle over the table. As an after thought to appease his stomach as well, "You got a special?"

<<@Team[McCoy] I can get us a van for a couple days without any records of it. The question being do you want to have to pay for it or not. The Rental Company doesn't care if we are driving it around, and I'd like to avoid GTA to an otherwise quasi-legal operation. That being said, if no one cares, I know a couple places that will misplace a van for a bit.

If we are going to do this sort of thing long term, I'd suggest picking up a used one so we can make alterations if we need to. But that maybe as discussio for another time. I can also snag any records the city has on file, and though they are likely wrong in half a dozen places it will give us a place to work from. That and it should give use a good idea about where the electrical, water, and sewer lines are run.

Vertigo grabs and empty chair next to Atreus, taking a look around the bar. My kinda place... out of the way and not too open... would have preferred a booth though...

She looks over the gorgeous elf with almost as much enthusiasm as Atreus... ooo that suit is hot... I should get one like that... but for entirely different reasons. As Mac walks away, Vertigo turns to Atreus.

"I'd love a beer... how's your brother been lately?"
"I'll text a friend of mine and see what he knows about the Ikeda Corp. I like the idea of a van."

Producing a commlink she begins to punch keys in rapid succession. As relaxed as she looks, any casual observe would be surprised to learn that she is simultaneously carrying on a two conversations and sending a text.

"What kind of food do they have in this place?"
"If we can figure out what they do I'd like to infiltrate early and look around. Maybe pose as a lost delivery girl..."
[Finch]: Got an interesting story to tell you about our friend Ikeda. Hit me back when you have a minute or two.

She pauses long enough to look around again and wonder what was ol' Mac doing in that back room?

Vertigo - As you access your commlink to send out mail, you realize that Mac wasn't kidding. This whole place is saturated in enough white noise to give an otaku a headache. You're unable to pick up anything except for the access node that she mentioned. Logging onto that, you're able to access the Matrix readily enough, but it'd be almost impossible to connect directly to anything inside the bar.

Finch's reply comes fairly quickly, unsurprisingly.
"Well, I can tell you just off the bat that there's a rumor going around about Ikeda and the Takara. Run by sisters that absolutely hate each other, they're doing they're best to wipe each other off the map. Ikeda's winning, at the moment, with Takara on the ropes. Anything more you're looking for, it'll take some time. Let me know if you want more detailed info, and gimme a few questions to run with."

Atreus sits back, cupping his hand in front of his mouth as though thinking to hide his use of the subvocal mike. <<@Team [Atreus] For the initial two drive-bys, I was thinking you could just monkey the rental car records for a complementary rental... or prepaid... or corporate account usage. I think getting a team vehicle would be a reasonable idea for the actual run... Not sure how our finances support that though. And a place to work from would be nice as well.>>

He then looks to Vertigo. "We've had a bit of a falling out. Haven't seen him in about a month. He'll surface when he's ready."

His mind drifts back to the safe house conversation. This would be a good idea. Something near the freeway. Several avenues of escape.

Cupping a collection of tall, chilled, thick glasses, the troll reappears at the table. She lays the drinks out and then looks to Atreus, who'd placed the order. She holds out a small box, one of the quaint, old fashioned credstick readers with the biometric IDs. The total flashing in the window is 50

Atreus pulls out a certified credstick at transfers 60 He puts a smile on his face and thinks, Hopefully a 20% tip will buy a little goodwill...

The trolless glances down at the reader, and flashes Atreus a quick, tusky grin before heading back behind the bar.

A quick note arrives on Vertigo's commlink, probably since it happens the only one connected to the outside at the moment. It's from WSC again, and it has a single name: Widget, and a commlink address, along with a note to contact her immediately for the run.

Vertigo glances down at her comm, and smiles.
"You guys should meet my friend...uh...'Cindy'. Maybe I'll see if she's available."
"Looks like our employers have good taste. I've worked with this other matrix specialist before, and she's good."

She quickly punches out a message.
<<[Widget]: Hey girl! Long time no see. Having some beers at Mac' Place {GPS arrow} and talking some shop. Come by if you're free.>>

She sips her beer and looks to McCoy.
"How's the beer treating you?"
"How soon do you think you could have a van lined up for us?"

Finn looks to the troll and gives a quiet nod before following the team to their booth. When the beer arrives, he lifts the glass and places the liquid to his lips. Setting the pint down, none of the liquid is gone.

Fourteen steps to the door, made fifteen by moving around the southern table. Twelve steps to the office. Thirty seconds to remove the lock.

"I would recommend getting some food."
"A tactical assault would be unwise at this point. We do not have sufficient information about their security forces. Begin with recon and move from there."

"Club sandwich and soup." is Atreus' reply to the comment about food.
<<@Team [Atreus] We'll eat and make the preparations for the two recons then?>>

Moving through her studio, Widget looks around making sure everything is as cleaned up as possible before she has to head out. She actually jumps and gives a little squeak as her commlink chirps with an incoming message. She quickly links with it and pulls up the text into her mind.

<<[Widget]: Hey girl! Long time no see. Having some beers at Mac' Place {GPS arrow} and talking some shop. Come by if you're free.>>

With a long sigh and exhalation of breath, she lets the tension drain away from her body. Seeing a familiar name puts her more at ease, she was torn about taking the job with WSC worried that her street rep and ways would put her at odds with a team of runners who might be more corp than she could swing. As her mood shifts the small micro drones scattered around the living space emerge from hiding and begin to move through the space. A swell of mechanical noise soon fills the silence as she looks at herself in a door mounted mirror.

"Ok everybody mama has some work to do and needs to change into something more suited for going out" As she finishes talking the drones leap into action. She quickly strips out of the armor and stashes the working gear in a locked chest in the back of her closet. Reaching into what can only be called a landslide of clothing spilling forth from the other end of the closet, she quickly puts together an outfit ideally suited for a rave. The drones drag accessories over to her as she quickly does her hair into two large pom pom style pigtails. Taking the jewelry offered she finishes the look with earrings, several necklaces and an assortment of bracelets. Looking around she digs her coat from under the bed and shakes it out before putting it on. Fishing into the pockets she dumps a handful of trash into the small trash can in her kitchenette. She pauses at the door, kneels and lays her wrists down on the floor - palms facing up. "Ok folks last bus is pulling out, let's go."

A horde of small drones streams from the floor and makes their way up her arms. Each seems to have a place to nestle in - somewhere out of sight. With a half smile she stands, grabs a small backpack and locks the door behind her. With a jog she makes her way to the lift at the end of the hall and takes it to the street level.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As she enters the door of the bar, she hops from her hoverboard and begins to fold it down to stash in her bag. She looks around hoping to see Vertigo somewhere nearby as she struggles with the door and putting the board away while scanning the room. She winces as she sees the interior and realizes she's not exactly dressed for the place. Seeing the troll tending bar she pulls out her best 100 watt smile and flashes it her way.

The troll stops and stares as if struck as if she's seen a ghost as Widget pushes into the bar. After a long moment so seems to suddenly come to herself, realizing she's just standing there staring, and she shakes her head and motions with her chin towards Vertigo's table as she continues to clean the bar.

McCoy in the interest of keep things slight more on the up and up, arranges an anonymous enough web shell to place the order and draws on the ganger ork's creds to pay for the thing. If he doesn't have enough to cover it, he will apply for credit or the like and get that sucker into the hole if he can. Once that is done, he'll respond.
"It's a decent microbrew. I'm thinking hamburger and then I'm a game short of the Americana trifecta. "

<<@Team, Van is ready and I know a place to deliver it to. Don't worry, it doesn't get back to us.

Gregor paused reviewing the recorded material via his monocle, the reflected light giving him a greenish iris, and signalled with two raised fingers at Atreus a desire for his own order of a club sandwhich and soup.

<@team I shall make my usual inquiries of my contacts after we eat.>>

"A bottle of pilsner will do as well."

Widget's smile loses its shape as the troll's face goes blank in shock and then nod for her to make her way to a table. She makes her way to the indicated table to see a group of people already assembled there. As she walks she keeps looking back over her shoulder at the barkeep, trying to remember if she's seen her somewhere before or had a bad run in. As she arrives at the table she gives a distracted nod and smile to Vertigo as she pulls a chair over to sit on.

"Hello all....."

With a genial smile the ork makes room, and looks around at everyone else inquiringly, "A pitcher or two perhaps?"

At the sound of 'a pitcher or two', Atreus' smile lights up.. then drops. "We best keep it at two". He says, his smile returning.

Rising from her chair, Vertigo grins big and throws an arm around Widget.
"Everybody, this is my friend Widget. Widget, this is um... everybody." She hands the matrix specialist a beer, and glances at Atreus.
@Atreus:"Widget and I worked together with your brother for awhile. Maybe he mentioned her?"

Returning to her seat, Vertigo takes a swig of her own beer and winks at the dapper ork.
"I think a single pitcher will suffice, big guy..."
"I'd like to get some legwork started tonight if we're going to scout the target tomorrow."

"If I order only one, what shall everyone else drink?"

As the newcomer joins the group at the table the ork stands, performs a small bow, and holds out a cream colored piece of paper in welcome, "My card."

On the card is a hand written name of "Sweetness" in elegant script over a commcode in block letters and numbers and other symbols.

Atreus chuckles as Gregor makes plans for the pitcher. "That may lead to a throw down," he says in friendly banter. "And no spirits." he adds with a good humored waggle of his finger.

<<@Vertigo [Atreus] Now that you mention it, he did. She was spot on and kick ass as I remember him tell it.>>

With one last look at the troll tending bar, Widget turns her attention to the group completely. "So as the late one to this shindig I'm going to need a little catch up, sorry." She takes a moment to make eye contact with each member to fix their face in her memory. She's surprised by the offer of the card from the orc and actually blushes as she accepts it across the table. "Thanks, my mom had cards too. Nice touch." As she settles her eyes on Finn her features actually soften and take on a warm cast. A half smile creeps onto her face. "Don't take this the wrong way but you remind me of my uncle." Having finished the visual sweep she waits to hear what the job is.

Finn looks across at the newcomer. His eyes scanning her face, bone structure, and musculature. It was not the first time he had received a comment like this, but certainly the first within the insular community of professional criminals.

"Thank you, I believe. Who is your uncle?"

Again the pint glass raises to his lips as if to drink, placing it back onto the table none of the liquid is gone. While a section of his mind is partitioned off to deal with the quandary of who the young hacker's family is, Finn continues to watch the bar and patrons.

Widget rushes to explain, not wanting to give any offense. "Compliment all the way, my Uncle Jake and Fixx though it's more my Uncle Fixx you remind me of." She feels the hot flush creep up her face as she babbles to try and fill the space. Turning towards the bartender she hollers her order. "Can I get something light and won't leave me on my ass when I'm finished and something noodley from the menu? Thanks!" She pivots back towards the group at the table. 'So....."

After observing the interchange with a genial smile, the ork speaks up, "We don't talk business while we eat."

With a lazy wave of his hand over the table he continues, "But there's always a rich.. ahh.. subtext to the food and drink."

"I always have trouble with it myself." he finished with an encouraging smile.

Vertigo pulls up Kukyo's message about the Ikeda job and slides her commlink over to Widget.

"I assume you are familiar with Watanabe, since Kukyo told us to call you. We're just discussing how we should go about surveilling the target before we make the run. We have 7 days to complete the job."

The food is passable, definitely not of the highest quality, but fairly standard for pub food. The bartender seemed to cook alot of it an a grill that popped up from somewhere behind the bar. The large space in the center of the circle bar seemed to make a little more sense now as she proceeded to slap together sandwiches from a number of bins and compartments that retracted into the floor and space under the bar, and obviously switched out with some sort of rotating system.

Over-priced food consumed and paid for, the group leaves the bar. Those somewhat stifled by the dense electronic white noise breath a sigh of relief as they reconnect, the Matrix repopulating itself around them. The physical recon team heads out, leaving everyone else to their respective specialties.

As soon as she's clear of Mac's static zone, Vertigo goes to town on the key pad of her commlink.

<<@Finch [Vertigo]: Safer to talk now. What kind of details can you give me on the Ikeda corp? What kind of biz are they doing, and what's the nature of with this feud with Takara? Sisters?>>

She turns to the group... "I'll see you all at the meeting point tomorrow morning, bright and early." before hoping on her bike.

For now its home to a hot shower and good nights sleep....