Dagda

Dagda does a double take.

"Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about him. Feel like I'm having an out of body experience today. Ah well. Sun's almost over the yardarm."

Dancer - The Meet

When DD sends her information to Dancer, there is an unobtrusive chirp from her commlink, followed by her slipping on a pair of mirrorshades. So apparently, she doesn't walk around experiencing VR by default. Interesting. Her question draws a blank look from Dancer, but as she is about to reply, probably with a question of her own, Blackie walks in.

She gives a brief nod and scoots over for him as he sits down. She acknowledges his comment about the trid with a slight smirk, apparently either not taking it seriously, or not bothered by it. She has to school her face into impassivity, though, when yet another member of the team turns out to be a nicotine freak. But in the end, it's only another annoyance to be overlooked - she needs to make a good impression on the client and her fellow runners, if her fledgeling career here is to go anywhere.

Dagda follows soon after. The tall Russian is a bit sharply dressed for a sports bar, but he would stand out in any attire at all, so she doesn't blame him for saying the hell with it, and dressing to the nines. At least he seems a bit more relaxed than he did at the party. As Blackie lights up, she half-heartedly finishes nibbling on her chicken wing before pushing the plate away a bit, with three of the wings still untouched. She still has a hard time adjusting to how little she eats, these days.

"Carroway should be here soon - he seemed pretty steady. I want to hit the ground running on this job, but maybe we should give him a bit more time. That way, we won't be going over everything twice."

DD - Day 1

DD looks a bit puzzled at the sharply dressed russian. His corp style looks contrast a bit with his words. But he looks exotic enough to add to the visual appeal.

Speaking of visual appeal... DD looks both men over, to get a few good shots in. Her simrig is running, as usual, and so she takes in the smell as well, even the smoke from the dark-haired human. Edgy.

Suppressing a cough, DD finishes her fries, then eyes Dancer. She would have expected the ork, as energetic as she is, to polish off another serving, not leave half her plate untouched.

Is she on a diet? Thank god for dietware. But on with the job.

DD sends out what info she gathered so far to the russian and the smoker, thanks the russian for the orange juice, then orders a dessert with enough calories to satisfy a growing troll. Double-Dip-Super-Size-Super-Bowl-Sundae it's called.

Mhhh.

Carroway – The Meet

On the morning around town he stops off at a couple of coffee shops for a latte and Danish. Sitting down in a cushioned booth he slides out of his body and zips over towards the target giving it a once over, stopping at any wards and trying to be as stealthy about it as possible.

Sliding back into his body he looks down at the now cold half a latte and looks around spotting the clock he swears under his breath, nearly time for the meet. Leaving a large tip for the waitress on the way out he moves to his car and starts the engine. A few blocks away from the CRUSH bar Carroway gets stuck in traffic. Fragging traffic, going to be late if I don’t hurry up. Leaning back in his chair he hits the autopilot to the CRUSH Bar’s car-park and then slides slowly out of his body. Zipping over to the meet at thought speed he ‘sits’ down in the booth and materialises looking both ways.

“Sorry about the lateness cross town traffic is its usual hell, My body should be arriving fairly soon but… lets get back to business.�

DD - Day 1

DD flinches a bit when Carroway suddenly materialises in the booth. At first it looks like another AR ad or call, but then...

Magic. Wonder if my simrig picks him up. But flashy indeed.

DD sends an e-note with the info she got to Carroway as well, then digs in her dessert.

Picture

Dagda - At the meet

"I like your rakish style," Dagda grins broadly at Carroway appearing in the booth, and letting his physical mask drop during the distraction. "but we are trying to be unobtrusive, and three awakened huddled in a booth with some shady characters is already highly suspicious." He pauses while the waitress dumps his plate of bacon, eggs and sausage infront of him until she is well away from the table.

"Anyway. Lets get on with this introduction bullshit. I'm Skriatok, and I'm a mage, which I'm sure you all know. My focus is on trickery, misdirection and illusions. I'm not a real combat contender, but when the chips are down I'm competent with a gun, have a trick or two up my sleeve, and can lean on my spiritual allies for assistance.

As for this run, I think it has four phases, and I think it should keep the principles of stage magic firmly front of mind...

One - The pledge - infiltration of the compound, which can either be a 'hot' entry were we get in and out with maximum force and disappear before lone star gets here, we move stealthly to until we get sprung and then we revert to the hot plan, or we use a 'soft skills' entry where we combine out talents and trick the guards into letting us in - showing them something ordinary. To decide whats the best plan we need to know where the stuff is, what physical barriers are between us and it, what the security is like, I'm sure you all know what needs to be done here.

Two - the turn- we need to get the vial, and then swap in our decoy so we can fill the 'company does not notice' part of the contract. My current thinking is that they don't know what they've got in their hands, or it is in long term storage, so we only need to make the dummy stand up to a casual inspection. To do this, I think we need to get one of the vials they use to store blood in, engineer it to be as good a replica as we can make it including adding the correct serial number, and then we disappear a SINless and use his blood to fill it.

Three - The prestige - we pull something else to misdirect attention from the real target. We probably need to brainstorm this a bit, so I'm going to open with we find out about some high profile clients, preferably attractive ones, and then steal their medical records and blood samples. I'm sure someone will buy them just to make clones out of, so we might even get a bonus.

Four - Exfilitration. This is a completely open question and depends very heavily on phases one and three so we probably need to nail that down and build some consensus on the inflitration methods. I was pretty sold on running hot in and out, but the idea of a proper covert job is growing on me, even if we just inflitrate a trojan horse.

What do you guys think of that, and what value can we all add?"

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer listens intently during Dagda's introduction, frowning slightly a few times. When he finishes and looks at the rest of them, she speaks up.

"I'm Kate, and I'm an adept. My main thing is working people, either luring them, turning them, getting information from them, or simply distracting them. But if it all hits the fan, I'm a very good shot, and I'm damn fast."

She turns her head back towards Dagda.

"As far as your planning goes, I'm glad you're starting to lean towards a sneak job. We're all new here - no secret that the Johnson wanted out-of-towners - and I don't want to get a rep as noisy, and get stuck with the cheap, shoot-em-up jobs.

For infiltration, we might as well be subtle, because we're going to need to get in there at least twice. Once to identify the blood sample, not to mention any related materials, and then again, to make the actual switch. Dummying up a fake shouldn't be a problem, and (she pauses to glare at Dagda slightly) we don't need to murder someone just to get a small sample of blood from them."

She pauses and looks thoughtful.

"As far as the "Prestige" goes, I would only grab some other stuff, or look like we're trying to, if the run itself gets compromised. Otherwise, we're just drawing heat on ourselves that we don't need. But we do need to plan for getting made at some point, and getting out quickly. I've done some recon of the neighborhood, but that can wait until everyone's intro'd, and we know what our group can do."

With that, she waits expectantly for someone else to speak.

Dagda


Dagda listens intently as Kate outlines her concerns with the infiltration, nodding occasionally and murmuring his agreement, then grinning back when she glares at him. Her emotional outburst is all the more obvious thanks to her perfect control at all other times.

Bah. Our triggerwoman is squeamish about killing people. No point pushing the issue here, but I'll have to champion the cause later. Dead man don't talk, and more importantly don't have any chance of committing a crime and being issued a criminal sin and then ending up on a public record. Maybe I'll have to do it.

Dagda cannot resist impulsively seizing the oppotunity to speak in response to Kate's points

"Two points, I was hoping that we could gather all the infomational background for the job before going on site. Going twice more than doubles the risk of getting made, and getting made on the first exposure blows all chance of getting the money. I also think it's important we do steal something else to create a distraction, because we may very well get made after we've gone past the point where we can no longer steal a distraction. And if we do get made, I would rather that they did have a very clear focus for their crime scene investigation from the beginning, rather than looking for everything."

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer nods slowly, obviously considering Dagda's words.

"Yeah, if we can find out enough details to dummy up a fake without having to go in there, that would be great. I see your point about giving them something else to focus on, but I'm worried it might make them check everything. And doing an additional theft could make it likelier for us to get made, period. It might still be a good idea, but I guess it depends on their security, and what kind of talent we've got on the team."

DD – Day 1, Meeting in the CRUSH! Bar

As expected... the russian’s cold as ice. Cold as Black ICE even. But he talks less corp than he speaks. Scratch that – this plan is pure corp.

DD frowns internally, but keeps a smile on her face.

And Kate’s a shooter. Odd. I’d have thought adepts go for hitting and kicking. Although there’s gun-fu. Could still bne visually appealing for those bullet-time shots.

“I am DD, I specialise in ‘acking. I ’ave also some experience in acquiring information outside the matrix. I am not completely ‘elpless in a fight, but my talents lie elsewhere.�

Her french accent is back with her in “runner mode�, as she calls the mask she wears. The plan from the russian seems cold, but looks to her like it’ll work better – one can’t be completely subtle and sell the sim/trid clips of the run. On the other hand, going in only once sounds safer too.

Best to combine those plans.

“I ‘ave done some data gathering in the matrix already, but nothing too substantial yet. You should all ‘ave gotten the data.�

DD licks the last remains of her dessert’s cream from her sponge, and studies the rest of the team.

“But, speaking of prestige, another point we need to decide is whether we do simsense or trideo recordings, and where we sell them. I’d advice against a delayed live-feed, that may not work with a sneak run. Selling edited clips after the run brings in less money, but is safer, in my opinion.�

DD details some of the prices run recordings go for, and what she expects.

“And, of course, we need a catchy team name or at least run title. That’s ‘alf the sales. Does anyone ‘ave a suggestion?�

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer has an adept's control over the social cues and visible displays of emotion that most people aren't even aware they are showing. But sometimes, it can be useful to relax that mask. In this case, she doesn't hide her bafflement as she looks around at the others, hoping that they find what DD just said as insane as she does.

"Great," she thinks to herself. "One member of the team is so ruthless and paranoid that he wants to kill a helpless squatter, just to get a dummy blood sample, while another member of the team is casually chirping about selling fragging trideo recordings of the run!"

"Excuse me?" Questions Blackie, rubbing his eyes "You want to turn this job into some sort of pseudojournalistic autobiographical crime-porn?"

Excellent. The last thing I need is my face projected through the media corps. Why should I let this... woman drag me in front of the camera again?. He rubs his hands together, feeling the scarred ridges of his hands through his gloves.

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

DD blinks, her eyes hidden behind her shades. That wasn't the reaction she has expected.

That'll have to be edited out, it'd make us look unprofessional.

"It's reality entertainment, and every runner in L.A. is doing it. How would you want to succeed in L.A. without it?"

Carroway – At The Meet

Looking around he frowns slightly at everyone’s response to DD’s questions. He shrugs slightly,

“Didn’t you know that’s how things roll in LA? There are usually multiple paparazzi drones around any social event plus any runs. The only problem is the need to make sure they don’t know we’re going for the blood sample. So we can’t really sell the full run. Otherwise the plan sounds fine. Oh I’m Carroway I’m an illusionist in my primary roll not bad in a punch-up and I’m okay at shooting a pistol.�

Dagda

"Yeah, I've heard about this tripe, and I have to say I stagger under the weight of my disbelief. But that aside, there are a couple of key issues. One, if any recording of any discussion or action surfaces that could expose the hidden agenda for this task, then we have difficulties. Two, if any recording of us surfaces, the cops are not stupid.

That said I'm nominally in favour of leveraging extra cash via splashing some pictures around. But at the end of the day we need to make sure that any recording is a tightly controlled affair that is an integrated part of our deception agenda."

"Apart from this having no journalistic, informative or entertaining weight, this is an operation where our explicit MO is misdirection and subterfuge, where we're going to likely be performing more than a few felonies, we're going to have the cameras rolling?"

Blackie is starting to get mad. His eyes have gone intense, his features sharp, and as he puts his hands down on the desk as he notices them starting to imperceptably shake. Why are they hurting again? The scars are closed up. He decides he better take this time to explain what he's about, and his role in the operation. I need another cigarette, he thinks, as he lights a new cancer-stick off the ember of an old one. He takes a deep drag, slows down, and begins talking

"This is my first time in LA, I'm a shadow photojournalist, so I can't say I haven't done this stuff before. I've broken into places for no reason other than to record. I've got a full recording sensory suite and I'm wired for hot sim. But I personally do not want to take that risk if it's for some sort of LA popularity test, or to make a quick buck. There would have to be a story in it, something to say, rather than just "Look at me!". If a tree falls in the woods, it's just noise.

Anyway. I'm Blackie. I specialize in stealth, surveillance and unorthodox methods of entry and have the skills and the softs to circumvent security systems. I've also got skillwires, in case we have any skill holes we need fixing, and I'm running over ten languages.

I also hack, and speaking of, I've done some digging this morning, when we come to sharing legwork."

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer schools her face back into calm as the others voice their opinions, although she still looks more resigned than pleased. Well, it looks like most of the other runners are going to go with the run recording idea. At least she can chime in with the Russian, and try to limit their exposure. She's at least seen some of the P2.0 stuff, too, although she hadn't planned on trying to break into it this soon - she is still more than a bit ambivalent about it.

She addresses DD first.

"I agree with Dagda. I've seen a bit of this stuff, and it's usually prerecorded, with the members of the team being really careful to conceal their identities. If we go with it, then we definitely need to go with the distraction, since we will be billing it as the main run. I also want to know how you plan on protecting our identities. Disguises, or post-production work? Considering that we don't know each other that well, I think we need to make sure everyone's concerns have been addressed before we offer a final version to buyers."

She grimaces distastefully at the last part, then turns to Blackie.

"Honestly, I don't like this idea any more than you do. But I guess it's how the business works here. This isn't a story. This isn't art. This is another one of those disgusting things you have to do sometimes, in the shadows. You're the vid expert, so I'll back your play if you have any security problems with this, but not if your main objection is that it's too fluffy for you."

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar meeting

DD listens to Blackie's outburst, noting his specialities.

Nice. Angst and rage against the system, that should bring in the rebel teenage audience! Quite some overlap with my skills too, so we'll be able to contrast that nicely in the field!

Then she smiles at Kate, even though she can't really understand the ork girl's reaction.

Doesn't she want to be famous and rich? She was acting a bit differently last night.

"Oh, I think it would be best if we use both post-production editing as well as some disguise. A flashy disguise would be best, it makes for a better product, and that means more money."

DD points at herself.

"This isn't 'ow I usually look, for example. It's my runner role."

DD pauses for a second.

Bad wording... Darky err... Blackie might not like that... hm...

"You could also call it a cover identity. It actually makes the running safer, since anyone will 'ave to find the runner behind the runner role."

DD hasn't much of a clue if it works that way, but it might help getting Blackie on the boat.

"Oh, and I am running a full simsense rig. Although what I got so far is not really suitable for publishing, since you don't seem to 'ave taken your roles yet. We might 'ave to stage a second "first meeting" later, to get a good opener for the production."

Although that brooding rebel outburst was just perfect, what a waste to let it drop...

Dagda

"So to briefly recap this P2.0! Live! Blog! Feed! Bullshit! we are okay with it if it is part of a authorized deception effort by the group, and if any unauthorized recordings appear on the street we are going to work out who the fuck thought that was a good idea and then ruthlessly butcher them.

Have cleared that up, back to the job. With two illusionists and some significant soft skills up front, some sort of 'covert entry' is probably pretty viable if we can work out how to get past the wards that shield the place. So lets have a look at what we know.

I know they have watcher based astral cover, and a thick ward covering. This probably means that have somewhere between two and four mages and staff to keep all the gear ticking over, or have paid for some serious security with the star, or both.

What do you guys know?"

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar meeting

"I 'ave already sent you what I 'have gathered so far."

Yes, the russian is a good cast for the cold ruthless type.

"What kind of covert entry are you thinking about? Sneaking in, or infiltrating by posing as an authorised visitor/employe? Or a combination of both?"

Dagda

Dagda relaxes and grins now that the unpleasantness is in the background "If they have left one of the employee entrances unwarded, I actually think abducting one of the employees who has clearance to access the rooms and just.. walking in.. would be a relatively neat play, but I'm not sure if it will fly. While I have no doubt that Carroway and I could make, say, the two women in very convicing fakes, the ward protection might kill that.

If we have to do a double entry, we'll have to do both. Can we get Blackie to eye over the floor plan and see what the physical security might look like?

I think the first steps are fairly obvious. You infiltrate the 'trix systems and rip off enough info to give us a floorplan and enough info to develop a picture of the physical and matrix security. Myself or Carroway team up with Blackie and go down to the place itself, looking for their medical waste disposal so we can find a vial or two to modify, develop a complete picture of the astral security, and the physical security. I'm not sure we have enough info to fully cover off on the what the best infiltration plan is."

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

"Another angle is the personell. We could see if some of their people 'ave or are some weaknesses."

I doubt they'll throw a party in there in the next weeks, but you'll never know. L.A. seems like a town such things could happen.

DD leans back, and goes full VR for a moment, to run a quick matrix search in case there's a picture of the vials on the corporation's PR data and ads.

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meet

Bingo!

DD locates a PR photo of the corp, depicting their "safe, clean laboratory practices". With a little bit of image zooming, She gets a clear picture of the vials. She sends it to the rest of the group.

"Here's a picture of the vials."

Dagda

"Nice work. Can you find out who the manufacturer is? Or maybe see if you can find a waste contractor announcing securing them as a contract? We might even be able to rent some 'instant office spare' and actually just con a real vial out of a manufacturer's rep."

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

A few moments in the matrix show DD that the vials are rather standard products, made by various companies. She relies this to the team.

"Those vials are common products. There are several companies producing them in California alone. The site will probably 'ave empty vials as well."

Blackie smiles, surprised by the bite in Dancer's vitriolic response.

While his new "team-mates" are talking, Blackie is cycling through data sheafs in his AR vision. When there is a break in conversation he begins relating some legwork.

"Here's what I've got so far. I dug around some data on Lawson Construction, an SK subsidiary who built the residential space that was converted into caduceus' pasadena facility. Lawson went under, but after some more digging I've got a floorplan for the site, although it's dated 2 years. I suppose DD could hack in and load a more recent blueprint, but we run the risk of hitting their system to early and raising some red flags.

I also foresaw DD's working of the personnel angle. Two most promising in terms of site access and leverage are Doc Franklin Yu and Doc Paul Harris. Paul Harris is married with children. The kids are untouchable. They're in a high security boarding school. He and his wife are profiled across the trix on "liason" nodes. Looking for other couples. Maybe DD and Carroway could take advantage of that particular predisposition. It would certainly put your advocacy of "social networking" and specific skillset to good use, DD."

Blackie hides the upturning of the corners of his mouth behind a cigarette drag, and continues.

As for Doctor Yu, he's single. No relatives to lean on that I could find. Although from digging through his social networking sites, where he gets quite a good rap, it seems, it looks like he has an avid interest in Golf, and he's going to an amateur tournament this weekend. Oh, and this might interest you Dancer, he's into "live performance art", perhaps this is a potential hook and line. And Dagda, I'm sure you could suit up and fit into the golf crowd aswell."

DD – Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

DD nods at Blackie when the man details his findings about the floorplans. Hacking into a system and stealing floorplans can tip off a corporation.

I wonder what the Russian thinks about that. Probably want to do the hacking early, so they’ve calmed down when we do the run – if we get detected.

Ah… „interpersonal angle“. So you stayed long enough at the party to notice.

DD looks the pictures over. Doc Paul Harris. And wife. She looks over to Carroway.

Shouldn’t be hard to get close to them.

„And what exactly do we do once we ’ave contact with the good doctor? General information search? Or do you ’ave specific plans already? Plant backdoors in ’is ’ome system? Get ’is access codes? Fill him with ’appy juice and ’ave Carroway change ’is mind?“

The russian will probably propose to take the wife hostage, if not for the secrecy needed… watch it, he’ll propose some „accident“.

DD leans back, studying the others. She’s of mixed mind about the „interpersonal angle“, but if it works… better than getting shot at.

At least it’ll give good footage.

"I've been tortured more than enough to know that everyone has a point where they will sell out their mother. And these are labcoats. They'll faint at the sight of Dagda."

He resists making a stone cold pun.

If we're going to make this look like some sort of basic smash and grab heist or catburgling blood robbery, a kidnapping can only help throw the investigations in other directions, as well as giving us easy access to information about the site, including door codes, guard positions and physical security that might not be in the blueprints. Also, this is a secure medical research facility, I'm willing to bet we might need Harris and/or Yu for biometric data."

Dagda

Dagda nods approvingly as Blackie runs through his findings to data, not seeming to mind that Blackie has been through the drawers of a collapsed corporation. "Good stuff, I think we can probably walk away from this with our intentions set by that, however I'm not keen on kidnappings. It's messy, the cops don't like it so they actually care, the perp sees you, though we can deal with that magically, and it has the possibility of going horribly wrong.

And hey, if it comes down to it, how you look now is no limitation on how big and scary you CAN look with a bit of effort. Unfortunately, while I do know how to control thoughts, can Carroway read minds?"

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer nods laconically when mentions Dr. Yu's interest in "live performance art", but frowns thoughtfully as the conversation drifts to interrogations and kidnappings.

"I'm good at getting people to open up to me, especially when they want to impress me with how important they are. But now it sounds like you're planning on using me more as a lure. I guess that makes sense, since we're trying to do this job quickly, and we need a lot of very specific information. We just need to hash out how we're going to get the information - magic or drugs might work better than leaning on them - and how we're going to tie up the loose ends afterwards."

She turns towards Blackie.

"Anything more specific on the good doctor's tastes, such as a favorite establishment, or method of contacting entertainers?"

Dagda

Dagda interjects briefly "If you think you can do it 'manually' without assistance, thats probably preferred. If someone has to mind rape him, then he will know all about it. If he coughs it up of his own free will, that is obviously better." before shutting up and letting Kate question Blackie.

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar meeting

DD keeps nodding while the others talk.

The torture explains his mood. Unless he means the torture of not being understood by his peers, or similar angsty stuff.

DD looks Blackie over more closely, trying to spot hints of his past like scars.

Too bad we can't do flashbacks... although he might have some footage we could use... but I doubt he'd go for it, unless it was a documentary.

"If the 'eadware is set up right, one can 'ack through a skinlink into it during the act. It's easier if the target likes to plug in a simsense signal feed from 'is partner, one can get access to 'is 'eadware through that, and use the feed as cover."

"Target" should sound professional enough.

"Do you 'ave any experience with this technique, Mister Blackie? We could partner up. Or you could team up with Kate, if the golfing doctor is open-minded in his appreciation for live performance art."

DD hides her grin with a big cheery and hopefully innocently-looking smile, curious how Blackie will react to that proposal.

His reaction alone should be good for a humor shot.

Carroway – Day 1, CRUSH bar
Carroway watches the conversation flow at the question about his abilities he shakes his head slightly.

“Not directly but it depends on how hard you want to push him on it. I have a few spells which will make him ‘uncomfortable’ they leave no scars and the signature will be gone after a couple of hours. But if we can get the info out of him without it may be better. I’ll be back in a second need to pick up my body it should be here now.�

He disappears in a blink of an eye and comes walking through the door seconds later. Sitting back down where he was he nods to the rest, before lighting up a cigarette.

"Honestly DD with your discerning tastes I thought you would have recognised that I have neither the looks or the panache suited the task, and spend most of my time behind the camera", and then, with an acerbic flick of the eyebrow, "but with my experience in filmic mediums, and the pictures on your e-cards... perhaps you've been centre stage before?"

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar meeting

"Flattering, Mister Blackie, but alas, not the case. But if you're that interested, there are a few private recordings. You might like them - authentic, real, almost a documentary."

DD smiles sweetly.

"But don't sell yourself short, 'oney. Some people really go for the dark and brooding with strong principles type. And you are the camera, right? That would be a draw for the exhibitionists. And the angles one would get for undercover documentaries..."

"Below the Belt by Blackie" - an insider's look at L.A.'s adult sim industry.

DD internally giggles at the thought of Blackie doing such a documentary.

"But back to the business at 'and. So, we get close to those doctors and gather more information, then see 'ow best to proceed? Or should we wait with the personal contacts until we know more from conventional sources?"

Refraining from his cat and mouse (or rather, cat and cat) mutual antagonization with the french one, Blackie rubs his gloves together and looks about the table. "well, we have a big group, I think our information gaining power is more distributed if we keep our specialties in mind and apply ourselves to all the angles. DD, If we co-operate in our data searching, our aptitudes with computers will probably yield most of the electronic intel that we'll need. Any agents possessed by the group can also supplement and do the general, laborious searches. Dagda and Carroway, I will gladly leave any arcane considerations to, and will try to involve myself as little as is needed in that respect. Dancer, an important role for you will be working the personnel angle, and this is something I imagine Carroway and DD have aptitudes in aswell. Also, Dancer, Perhaps, if your climbing is as proficient as your dancing, we could scout for some unconvential entrances to the facility?"

Blackie looks about the table, slightly unacustomed to telling people what to do. "Anyway, this way we all have two jobs to take care of, with at least one partner to lighten the load".

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer is still facing Blackie, but answers Dagda's question first.

"I am good at getting people to open up to me, but honestly, it takes more than one quick meeting to get meaningful information out of them. Getting someone to brag about the top-secret project they're working on, or slipping a bug in the place while they're over getting drinks, yeah. But getting detailed information on their security? On the one-week timetable we're trying to do this in? Nope. If the hackers can get some good information, and just need a few blanks filled in, then it might be possible again."

She replies to Blackie after his repartee with DD is over, and he addresses the group again.

"I'll be able to work this guy, no mistake. I just need to know whether you need me as bait, a distraction while someone else snoops around, or part of the kidnapping, where I could possibly play an 'innocent' victim caught up in it." She smiles wryly at the mention of climbing. "I could get some gecko gloves if I needed to, but honestly, I scouted out the place earlier, and it's not some isolated compound or a factory in a Z-zone. It's smack dab in the middle of a residential district, with apartment buildings looking down at it, and traffic from the highway off-ramp zipping through. Climbing the wall and busting in a window would not be a stealthy approach at all. Externally, though, the building isn't much. They've gone for the shabby look, so most of the nasty stuff will be hidden, and inside the building."

She looks between Blackie and DD. "Sooo... what do you media-savvy types suggest to get the good doctor's attention? Does his favorite night spot have an amateur night? Is there a spot where 'entertainers' hook up with clients? Do I need to get a job in a club, or have you guys shoot a demo tape of me?"

"I have no idea what exactly is possible for you to squeeze from Franklin before he gets wise. I wouldn't mind getting some biometric data from him in case we need it to access some secure areas, and also any help we can get to get me or DD security or admin access on site will be important. We all scratch eachothers backs.

As for Yu. Me and DD should probably do some more thorough trix searches on him. Analyse his profiles and maybe sniff his comm a little. Then we can compose a demo tape, do a little fiddling and make sure that your profile is forwarded straight to him. DD will probably have more.

Also, before we continue, I didn't want to be the one to bring it up, but are we going to discuss the pay at all? I'm thinking some sort of part-up-front arrangement? Personally, I'd like to eat throughout the next week. Who's for charming our party patron into throwing us a bone?"

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer shrugs. "Back in Seattle, getting 10-20% of the payout up front was almost standard procedure. Not sure how it works here - everything's so strange - but I don't think giving each of us 2K - that's a tenth of the minimum possible payout - would be out of line, especially for work that will tie up our time for a week, maybe more."

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

"More money's always nice, and if me and Carroway are going to be posing as a swinger couple for the doctor and 'is wife, then we'll 'ave expenses as well."

Unless the couple plans to skip right to the bedroom.

"But..." DD raises a hand.

"... if I 'ave understood correctly, Kate is going to pose as an escort to get close to 'er target? The golfer? If so, we should make sure we're not catching the attention of the groups that run such services 'ere in L.A.. If they mistake 'er for competition that could lead to serious trouble. And if the doctor is a regular john..."

DD trails off, hoping the seriousness of her tone and expression conveys her concern. She remembers the business practises of those services from New Orleans, and she doubts they are more open for competition, preceived or real, at the west coast.

Blackie would get his gritty shocking news, provided he can get alive feed out as long as he lasts.

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer interjects, "Entertainer, not escort... although I'm aware the lines can blur between the two, and the guys running the sex trade don't care about the distinction. And yeah, don't want to deal with those bottom-feeding little bloodsuckers. They're like cockroaches, kill one batch and another batch shows up. But anyways, you're right. Usually they're like gangs, give them a cut and they're fine, only I'm not sure how it works here. Might be best for me to work for some club he likes going to, where the management already works with them."

"I didn't foresee that. Imagined Dancer is just playing your average woman interested in Yu and his... profile credentials. Nothing indicated he ever paid directly for what he got, he seems like the more social, do-it-yourself type.

But, speaking of money, Who's going to speak to our Johnson? I didn't make the best impression.

Also, should some-one get the bill, I feel we should wrap up here. We're on a schedule, and we do all have general ideas of our objectives leading up to the run?"

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

Ah. Not a client then, just an average single male.

DD nods at Kate.

"Someone get the bill"? Is that a ploy to get a free lunch? There is no such thing as a free lunch. But he's right about the advance. Hmm.

The woman ponders the question for a second.

The russian. He's got the attitude and the corpspeak-savvy to get an advance.

"Dagda seems best qualified to explain our monetary needs to our contact."

And to squeeze blood from stone. Can mages do that for real, anyway?

DD leans forward, propping her elbows on the table, and looks around, taking all other runners in.

Zoom in, and get them all... including the hint of Kate's perfume. Yep, going to do nicely with some background music, something not too dramatic, just a hint of things to come...

"So we're clear - I'll probe the system for security data, and work on getting close to that doctor and 'is wife with Carroway, posing as an interested couple?"

DD glances at Carroway.

"Oh, DD, perhaps if you've got nothing on, we can leave together so we can discuss and share information on our particular hacking skillsets and gear? It might be beneficial to share some trade secrets, and maybe even some open-source code, as well as concerting our efforts"

In either case, "I'll be outside, taking a breath of something that doesn't smell like sports journalism" and as he shudders, he pulls another cigarette from his pack and leaves.

Carroway – Day 1, CRUSH! Bar

Carroway takes a drag from his cigarette and blows the smoke up and away from the group while flicking through the information given. He looks over DD as she mentions him,

“How do you want to approach them? If its over the ‘trix its probably better that you do it rather than me as I’m not that ‘trix savy.�

Looking over at Dagda,

“So how are you feeling about the magical security on site?�

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

"Once we're finished 'ere, of course..." DD trails off as Blackie leaves.

That man really needs his cigarettes, and not just for the dark, angsty image...

DD turns to Carroway, smiling brightly.

"Oh, 'ow we contact them is up to their preferences. But I think we need to compare notes, so to speak, and coordinate. They might grow suspicious if we don't look and act like a couple. But we can go over the kind of annoying habits lovers tend to tolerate in their partners after the meeting."

Dagda

"As I said, I'll pick up the tab. As for explaining the need for upfront costs, can do that, but I'm not a Harvard trained business negotiator by any measure. That said, this should be open and shut.

The magical security is pretty intense, especially if you want to infiltrate the facility, which is what made me lean towards a smash and grab. They obviously feel that magical threats are the headliner for for the facility and have gone for warding to prevent people walking in with sustained spells, making illusions much more difficult, and they have astral watchers on site, apparently 24/7 too, which complicates issues, because that means there is one more mages on duty."

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer smiles. "Ah. Just someone with a mild kink, looking for people with an exhibitionist side to complement it. I should be able to handle that, and it simplifies things a lot."

She is a bit disconcerted when Blackie leaves, seemingly in a hurry to get out of the bar - they still hadn't ironed out everyone's next steps, especially hers. At least the others don't follow him out right away.

She thanks Dagda when he offers to pick up the tab, a bit surprised. She's used to men paying her way, but usually fellow runners don't go for such gestures.

As Carroway and Dagda discuss the magical security, she hesitantly turns to DD. "Ah, just one question. Are we going the subtle route as far as working these people, or will we need disguises? And I know you already have hacking, and approaching that couple, on your plate, but do you think you might be able to help me? Some kind of demo or something that would get the doctor interested? I figure I'll start on this as soon as I can, see him a few times and get him interested before I start working him for information."

DD - Day 1, CRUSH! Bar Meeting

"A demo clip? Dance vid? Shouldn't be a problem. Do you want Trid, or Simsense? It won't be of professional quality, but you'll be probably going for the "gifted amateur" impression anyway I assume. We can plug the clips into your profile."

DD nods, thinking about some quick scenes, and possible music.

That'll be good footage. Orxploitation? Or something french?

"What kind of style do you want?"

Dancer - The Meet

Dancer ponders. "Sim would be best, since it's full-sensory, and probably trance or pop, something light that has a good beat to dance to. Then we need to figure out what I'll wear, or not wear, and how far the demo should go. But you're the media savvy one, so I'll leave myself in your capable hands."