The elf is wearing wool pants, a white button up shirt with a collar and cream colored knit vest. His hair is dusty brown and needs a comb ran through it. His complexion is medium and his nails groomed. He takes a sip of his tea before continuing. "You come highly recommended, so we'll keep this short. We need to validate the security on your com. Anything else traceable or generating signals? Where are your tools?" He starts to take a bite of soup, asking one more question before raising the spoon to his lips. "You were told we are under a time crunch?"

"Mah tools?" Alice chuckled. "Ah take it you're Nix then? Lesse, comm's brand new, I had to dump mah old ones, ah don't don't think so and no, not exactly. As to mah "tools", why do yah think ah've still got mah coat on?"

Alice smiled, taking a sip of her soycaf while she let Nix put her answers in the right places.

"Once I've vetted you, he'll be here." Nix was careful to word his replies so that they weren't actually lies.
<<@Dingo [Nix] Let me know what you know... and make sure her com is clean.>>

He then continued to eat his soup while he waited.

"Y'all do what y'alls got to do. Ah'm gonna finish this here sandwich and pretend like it's good eating." True to her word, Alice resumed eating though she did keep one hand free at all times. The same hand in fact.

<<@Nix [Dingo] On it. How in-depth do you want? Since she's comin' well-recommended, I'm guessin' we'll not want to invade her privacy too much...>>

Dingo starts running a scan of Alice's commlink, looking for the basic things like firewall, system, IC, response, and any other glaring holes in her system.

Mickle

<<@Nix [Dingo] Initial scans say it looks like a pretty basic setup from the outside. Renraku built. Should hold up well enough if I'm pulling matrix overwatch, but I'd like to get into it and give it a once-over to make sure Renraku didn't slip any extra surprises in. But that can wait until we're being friendly-like.>>

Nix continues to eat his soup.
<<@Alice [Human Resources] Your specialty is infiltration and weapons?>>

<<@Dingo [Nix] Check. I'm thinking that we return to the safe house for the night. Hopefully the bullet will be delivered tomorrow. Then we can plan an aerial insertion into the estate. Thoughts?>>

<<@Nix [Dingo] Aerial? As in, jump out of a plane? Let me see what I find when I get into the estate's node. All of these crazy rich types have bolt holes, don't they? Maybe we could go in through there.>>

"Y'all have a funny way of askin' questions." Alice said after the comm message came in, pushing the remainder of her sandwich aside and putting her hat back on. "Have Nix call me when he's ready to talk."

The elf raises an eyebrow as he sets down his spoon, presses the bowl aside and interlaces his fingers on the table in front of him. He looks calmly at the new arrival, only slightly amused. "He generally just pulls the information. I've been sent to be a little more diplomatic." He pauses a moment, looking around to make sure that no one is paying undo attention, then back at Alice. "But it only works one way. My job is to ascertain how you fit into the organization... If you walk away, a second offer will not be extended."

"Y'all's 'organisation' needs to remember something. Ah'm here because yah need me and ah had an obligation to fulfill. Ah've done that. There is no offer so ah can't hardly walk out on it now can ah?" Alice paused, obviously reigning herself in.

"Mah instructions were to deal with Nix. Not 'human resources' and not some flunky in a suit."

The elf smiles, "I wasn't aware you were doing this without financial recompense." He sets his napkin on the table, "I am so sorry to have wasted your time. Pro-bono is definitely something that should move you along in the process." He starts to rise.

"Ah don' work fer free and ah don' get played fer a fool. Ya got five minutes ta get Nix in here or ah walk" Alice locked eyes with the Elf across the table. "Ah don' think mah people are gonna be to happy with your people when ah tell them why."

The elf leans in, looks her in the eye and calmly states. "Your people are inconsequential to the now. Their happiness is not my concern."
<<@Alice [Human Resources] We don't discuss business in the open and you're not in until you're vetted; If that was not clear, let me make it so now. Shall we continue?>>

Internally, Nix is conflicted. The operation is very sensitive and he needs a consummate professional. This far in, he is left to vet her out and determine how she fits into the team. Also, this girl is acting like she's a member of the team when she has only been brought in to meet about joining the team. Bravado like that will get me and Dingo killed.

He focuses on the girl's demeanor trying to discern if she is just frustrated or losing control.

"Not yours maybe, they should be Nix's." Alice actually seemed amused by the disregard her comment had earned despite her frustration at the situation. Part of her frustation was she didn't know who to be pissed at, the details she'd been given were very different from the ones he seemed to be operating with but she had no idea who's fault it was.

<<@Human Resources [Alice] So you arrange a meet in the open then put your trust in unsecured comm messages? Thats a much better approach.>>

A few moments later, a second message followed

<<@Human Resources [Alice] Close quarter combat, silent kill. You've got 4 minutes>>

<<@"Human Resources" [Dingo] Unsecured?! Screw her personal space. I'm gutting her damn commlink! I'll show her unsecured... >>

Dingo seethes in VR, frustrated by the implication that he's not the epitome of awesome that he knows he is.

<<@Dingo [Human Resources] I'm about ready to concur. Deadlines do not sit well with me for people who are seeking to join the team and get a payday.>>

The elf places his elbows on the table and rubs his hands together, thinking for a minute. Then without another word rises, heading for the door.

<<@Human Resources, Alice [Overwatch] Alright, that's enough of that, kiddos. HR, I think we have enough for now. Alice, we'll be in contact soon with details for a private meeting with Nix.>>

After one last long appraising look, Alice finally stands, sliding away from the table.
Alright then, seems I heard wrong about you all. You have yourself a nice day there.
She walks away, taking care to keep the man at the table on her peripheral as she switches off her commlink, and heads out the door.

<<@Human Resources[Overwatch] Well. That went well. So where were we?>>

The elf referred to as Human Resources makes his way out of the cafe and down the street.
<<@Dingo [Nix] Short-handed, but secure. I'll take that over the opposite.>>

After doubling back twice and taking the consummate number of paranoid precautions, he reaches the safety of the car and drops the mask.
<<@Dingo [Nix] Perhaps we subcontract some local muscle?>>

<<@Nix [Dingo] I might know a few lads, if you trust my judgement. They aren't the sort most'd trust, but I've counted on them in the past. Say the word, and I'll make a few calls.>>

<<@Dingo [Nix] That's probably best. Reach out. We need to better set expectations this time though.>>

<<@Nix [Dingo] On it. Any thoughts on what expectations we've got?>>

Dingo sends a quick message to his fixer.

<<@Halcyon [Dingo] Hey boss, know if any of our strong boys in the area need a bit of work? We find ourselves in need of someone who can hold his own in a fight. Oh, and make sure it's someone who's patient. This boyo you hooked me up with is a little more paranoid than the normal lads I work with.>>

<<<<@Dingo[Halcyon] Something up his quip then? Right, I can do that for you. An hour, and I'll have someone on the line for ya'. I'll shoot you back a name and a figure for the connection.>>>

As he drives away from the area of the meet, Nix continues his conversation.
<<@Dingo [Nix] We need muscle. B&E experts who won't be spooked by paranormal critters.>>

<<@Nix [Dingo] Got it. In an hour or so, we should have someone lined up. My contact's flippin through his rolodex as we speak.>>

Dingo shifts back into AR and sits up in the drivers seat. He calls the flyspies back into the van through an open window and drives off, taking a convoluted enough path to ensure he's not being followed.

Russel - Home Flat - London

An afternoon on the couch might be relaxing for some, but for others, it only means one thing: no work. Times are never easy, and the last few months, especially so. For a man with people depending on him, it always comes down to the next payday, and the hope that the next one might be bigger. So when an unexpected commcall comes in from Leo's number, the possibility of paying bills and making rent suddenly become a possibility, not another burden

Up and at 'em boyo, got a little work coming you way, assuming you're interested. Some folks doing some action, need a quick and ready hard man. You up for it?

As usual, Leo doesn't show his face on the comm, and even discussing this much business over the line is a sure tell of just how "quick" someone needs a man. And that means money.

As he takes the call from Leo, Russell makes sure Jonas isn't listening, "You know it, always ready. Just send time and place."

Hanging up, to clear his comlink for the reply message, he looks in to see what his nephew is up to. As usual, just another silly game, but Russell wouldn't want it any other way. "Hey kiddo, make sure to stay in tonight. Someone has an emergency job, and your uncle has to take care of it. I'll probably be out late so fix yourself dinner." As usual, Jonas just waves and keeps his focus on the game, but hey at least he's not on the streets.

Settling in his office, Russell starts assembling his 'work' bag waiting for the reply from Leo. *sighs* "I'm going to need some new tricks if I'm going to keep this up and keep that kid in the dark."

Once the initial equipment is squared away, he sends off a message to his buddy Droc <<@Droc [Fix] Dude, I might need you to check up on some guys for me, got some time?>>

The hacker shoots back a message almost immediately. Surprise surprise that he's online.

<<<@Fix[Droc] I can do that for you my man. What've you got to go on? Easier if you have some details. Biometrics would be great! And a discount if they turn out to be interesting. Otherwise, simple data scrape, 50 a go. Sound kosher?>>>>


Part of the difficulty of a hacker that spends most of his time in the system, with people from all over the world; he can't seem to decide who he's supposed to sound like in text. At least it's not hacker - speak ... that shit with three letters and a number for 'E' right ...

<<@Droc [Fix] Thanks, I'll send you the packet as soon as I have it. Also, keep an eye out for my alert if someone gets too nosy.>>

After sending that off, Russel makes sure that his alert program is ready to send the signal to Droc that his comlink is under attack. Sure it costs extra, but has really paid off in the past.

After double checking his bag with still no word, he goes back to the kitchen and fixes a big enough meal to last him till dawn, before relaxing in front of the vid to catch some shut eye until needing to leave for the meeting.

Dingo sets off a couple celebratory fireworks in his AR display as he finds a convenient patching path for the estate's system. Another few minutes worth of work, and Dingo will have free run of the system. He takes a moment to send a message to Nix before hunkering down for the sprint to the finish line.

<<@Nix [Dingo] Ha! Feel free to grovel when we're back at the safehouse. I am, after all, one of the best hackers ever.>>

London - The Squeeze - 0300

It's a late night getting back from first Chemsford and their scouting trip, then an evening rendezvous with the gunslinger from the west. Coming in from the cool air and fog into the old flat, Nix and Dingo find a small envelope tucked under the door with nothing but 'From Jack' scrawled across it. A standard postal envelope, there's a small bulge in the center.

Nix collects the envelope, looking astrally momentarily as if expecting the essence of Cthulhu to be contained within before opening it.

There's no astral signature or lingering auras to it. No Dark Madness of the Deep. It feels to mainly be a thick thunk of metal with a few smaller bits sliding around inside.

Inside is a large chunk of what used to be a round, most of the jacketing sheered away.
Roll Armorer, applicable knowledge skill, or default to identify type

Nix looks over the spent round.

[ Intuition(5) + Default(-1) = [4,6,1,6] = 2 hits ]

He takes the round and heads into the kitchen, clearing off the small breakfast table that serves as a dining table. Setting the chunk of metal in the center of the table, he slowly circles it before pulling over a chair and sitting down. He begins to focus on the metal, weaving metamagic seeking a deeper understanding; Seeking a view into the past.

[ Magic(6) + Assensing(3) +Time:UpToAWeek(-2) + ImpressionOfViolence(3) +Edge(5) + Grade(2) [4,3,2,2,[6, 2],2,5,1,3,5,4,3,4,1,2 , 2,3] = 3 hits ]

Dingo grumbles about inconsiderate jerks not acknowledging his awesomeness as he flops into a chair to focus on his own job. He slips into VR once more and begins really working over the node. A few minutes later, he has it. Full admin access. Now that he's gotten into the house's central node, he can look around and see what there is too see.

First things first, though. He has to make sure he could get back in whenever he wants.

Rolls

Nix - The Smoke/London - The Safe House
Examining the round, Nix can say with some certainty that is used to be a high caliber rifle round of some sort. It still retains the general size, although nearly have the round is mushroomed from impacting with a cyber round. That it's still together at all speaks of the power behind it and the density of the round.

Sitting in to read the round, the impressions at first are very vague, very distant. Its origin seems only a distant impression, along series of shadowy movemets, manufacturing not being something that leaves a lot of emotinoal impressions. There is almost nothing associated with the round until a sudden feeling of impact, people screaming in a forested area, shredding metal and blood, a body on the ground nearby. Nix has a brief view of the scene much as the ork described, although from a slightly skewed perception.

Intuition test

Dingo - "The Smoke"/London - The Safe House

The system, once Dingo is finished playing with it's guts, putting away a hidden Admin Super User account, is fairly well put together, designed more for ease of use one might expect of the not-so-tech-savvy rich. Running through the system, the hosue AR system is well set up and surprisingly pervasive for the home of an english nobleman. There is a light surveillance system that covers the drive up and the main entrances. The security alarm system does have an outside link to local law enforcement.

The house has an automated system for foor delivieries as many modern households do. While looking for anyinformation deviating from the norm, Dingo's search notes that while there is a list of food stuffs waiting to be ordered, indicating a mostly empty pantry, the order request has been manually suspended. Likewise, most of the house's settings have been placed on 'Away' mode by the authorized user.

It's eay enough to find the house's day planner and calendar system. While it does seem to be used semi-regularly, it's quickly apparenty that the house system doesn't handle most of the organizing for events. There is a record of a link to a personal comm, which is not showing as present within the home.

After enough poking around, Dingo begins to notice the signs. While the house system is impressive in it's own way, well designed and sculpted to match what he can only assume the interior must look like since there are no internal cameras, most of the home's security is handled by a more secure system, apparently based on hard lines.

While the main entrances use a biometric system for access, linking to those devices shows a second system drawing power off the lines, although not connected in the system. Using the house's systems, he's also able to detect a second transmitter device, apparently somewhere on the roof, also not connected to the hosue system. The setup is consistent with more advanced security systems that remain isolated and hardwired. Usually very outdated, or very paranoid. Or both.

Make Hardware Test

Nix - The Smoke/London - The Safe House

[ Intuition(5) + Perception(2) [5,1,6,4,3,4,5] Visual(2) [2,4] Actively Looking(3) [3,1,3] = 3 hits, in any scenario ]

He watches the vision and scowls, hoping to get much more. He tries to focus on the shadowy figures, hoping to not come back empty handed.

Dingo - "The Smoke"/London - The Safe House

[logic (6) + hardware (4) = [3,5,4,6,1,4,4,5,2,6] = (4) + hotsim (2) = [6,2] = (1) = 5 hits total]

Dingo takes his time going over the system, making note of anything that could be important. He also sets his agent with the task of intercepting any security alerts he might accidentally trigger. Once that's taken care of, he notes down the comm code for the personal link, the list of foods (particularly any uncommon food preferences), any information he can easily acquire from the biomonitors (particularly looking for the specific biometrics they scan and allow access for), and any names or other information that might be useful in the planner/calendar.

Just before he considers logging off, a second transmitter device catches his attention. He begins trying to access it, hoping that it might be a way into the secondary security system.

Nix
After more examination, Nix can only conclude that there is almost nil emotional attachment to the round, except for when it acutally impacted with it's target. Prior to that moment, there seems to be almost no physical handling by metahumans.

Dingo
Putting together a personality profile may take a little while although he should be able to manage it. Accessing the transmitting device on the roof however isn't possible from within the system, as it's only connection is through power supply. Looking through the system, the door access will likely have what he needs for biometrics, as it doesn't seem to be in the system in other areas. Much of the hard bios required are not in the main security system, although the voice print can be lifted in multiple areas.

Nix - The Smoke/London - The Safe House

Nix stands up and steps away from the bullet. He rubs his chin considering the possible options.
<<@Dingo [Nix] Most probably the bullet was fired from a drone. I have impressions from the recipient, but not the shooter. We should pull some local muscle and test the mansion perimeter defenses.>>

Dingo - "The Smoke"/London - The Safe House

<<@Nix [Dingo] I'm poking about the mansion's central node now. Here's what I've found so far:{{atachment: data dump}}. I've also spotted several signs that he has a separate security system that I'm not able to access just yet. If the bullet was shot by a drone, it may still be up there. I'm gonna poke around a bit and see if I can't find a connection to the security system. I don't much want to poke about there and take a bullet because a drone didn't see me as a good guy...>>

Dingo sends his response as he begins running a search for any hard-to-find wireless signals in the area of the house.

Nothing shows up in the intitial scan. Depending on the hardware used, there could be a number of methods to keep tight communication with a drone, which would also depend on the type of drone and the type of hardware it uses to receive and issue commands.
Roll Hardware OR Electronic Warfare

Dingo - "The Smoke"/London - The Safe House

[logic (6) = 1 hit + E. Warfare (6) = 3 hits = 4 hits (+ program (6 for common, 5 for hacking) = 3 hits)

Dingo begins testing that wireless transmitter, looking it over to see if it'll serve as an access point for him to tap into the hidden security system.

Looking over the information from the drone, it didn't pick up any extra wireless activity. Nor is there any convenient signal in the area that he can piggy back to. It looks like the transmitter must have a very limited or directed signal area, possibly something other than simple broadcast such as a laser link up or maser. Which ever the case, Dingo would have to be on sight to check before, maybe send out the dragonfly for another, more directed sweep.

Dingo - "The Smoke"/London - The Safe House

<<@Nix [Dingo] Well hell. Whoever did the security system is not nearly as much of a failure as we might have hoped. I'm gonna need to get close in order to mess with the drone and any other security there might be. Our contact here in town is able to get us drones, right? I have an idea for how we might be able to take out that drone without that rifle taking us out first.>>

<<@Dingo [Nix] Ok. This is your turf. Let me know what you find.>>

Nix begins to pace. I hate the waiting....