Sully will take a moment and secure the guard with plasteel bindings. She will quickly check his breathing and pulse. Thanks, so what's next boys and girls?

As soon as Wraith says the guard is down Trace relaxes and lets the mana bonds of his spells slip away into the astral wind.

"Ok now for the prez, is he still on the phone?"

:: The red light still flashes for the line labeled Graves. ::

:: As Wraith looks at the cameras displayed, he notices something he just now though of. Stepping back into the hallway, he can see a small camera hidden in the center between two lights. Normally, the light from those bulbs would make spotting the camera difficult, but the strangest thing about it, is that there is no cooresponding image on the monitors. Flipping the physical switches on the 4 center units only brings up the camera's in the cafeteria and the front Lobby. ::

Jack nods internally, and steps back over to the offline storage units for a minute.

"Let me find the info we need to swap, and I'll be right there."

He runs a complete search, looking for any information about the prototype armor.

Wraith peers up at a corner in the hall and creeps slowly towards it. His eyes buzz as they go through all the installed filters. He watches the camera, his knowledge of such devices telling him a lot. his mind spins as he realizes the camera is pointed right at him.

"Drek. Frag! We're had. I've got a SpecOps camera here in the corner. This thing is SOTA all the way. Jack, figure out a way to get that door open as quick as you can and make sure no security alarms are active. Frag, this may have a second network setup for it, did you spot anything like that online? Be on alert team! Trace, get our astral cover to do another sweep through the building, lets look in on Mr Pres. Trace, be advised, I am headed your way to take a first hand look at that door."

:: Just as Wraith sounds the alarm, Jack finally discovers a well hidden node. After a moment of tension, he manages to convince the system that he belongs there and the files open up. There is data outlining everything from the chemical treatments tried and the clinical trials for the finished prototype to information detailing production plans and marketing venues. It seems very thorough. ::

Sully's mind boggles as she sorts out all the sensory info and Wraith's report over the comm channel.

Trace, we need to talk like we did in the diner. Are we splitting up? One team go secure the president and the other get the prototype? Or do we skip him entirely and go for the package? I am for leaving him alone unless absolutely necessary. We should be ready to scamble if that camera reports to the magic security people since Crimson mentioned it was major talent on this job.

Everyone take a breath. Wraith, get working on that door, but do not touch it if it means setting of an alarm. Jack, we need to know the second you have the data uploaded and replaced, that is our priority. Once that is done Wraith will open the door as fast as possible. If he can't do it in under 30 seconds we blow it, or slag it. Sully give me a moment.

Trace closes his eyes for a beat, when they open he see's the world of the astral, along with Ember floating nearby.

"Hey, the jig may be up, I need you to do another astral scan of the building, then I want you to head outside and report what you find to PD. After that I want you watching the outside of the building to give us a early warning. Got it, good."

Trace heaves himself up and moves quickly down the hallway to Sully's position. Once he is beside her he leans in close and whispers,

"Sorry I am to drained to risk the spell right now, I need to save my juice, this is should be secure though, whats up?"

Sully's voice comes out a slight exhalation of breath. "We have two choices in front of us here. Crimson was here a few hours ago. Her stink is all over this room along with one of her dogs. Either that camera is her's and we're being watched and graded or we have been hung out to dry."

"Frag that woman. She would know you can smell her Sully. She would know. This isn't an accident. What I don't understand is why, but for now we go as planned. Just be alert," Trace says in a voice barely above a whisper.

She would know dammit. I hate this crap.

"Jack give me an ETA on the upload."

The voice crackling over the comm system is distant and tinny, and it sounds like he's only giving it half his attention.

"Gimme nine seconds boss, I gotta scrub my tracks pretty well, but I found what we're looking for."

Ember's lips press into a thin line as she notes the agitated emotions flaring around her.

"Pretty vague, boss. Anything you want me and PD to know?"

Hering the comotion over the comms, PD sits up and tries to be even more alert to any approaching backup for the on site security team.

Got it, Ember replies. She floats off to take another scan of the building, and then moves on to the exterior.

Wraith moves down towards the east end of the building to get a look at the door.

Jack:

:: Once you access the node and wrangle past the IC, it's a relatively simple matter of downloading the data and replacing it with the dummy version given to you by Crimson. As you see the file open, it turns out to be a virus of some sort, the virtual room seems to flurry out like mini twisters as certain key bits of data are scrambled just enough to invalidate all they had worked on. The finished product is VERY convincing. ::

Ember:

:: As you take your last path through the building, you see nothing has changed. Mr. Graves still sits in his office, staring at a computer. The guards are both passed out, the pain of their trauma evident in their aura's. Exiting the building, the world bursts into color once more as the plethora of vegetation light the astral with their particular brand of energy. ::

Wraith:

:: After a few moments studying the mechanism that drives the door, you can see it's a very high rating maglock and retinal scanner, but after your intensive study of the model in particular, you easily remember the proper proceedure necessary to disengage the lock without activating the electrical volt designed to knock out a troll. At least, you HOPE you remember. ::

A few more seconds to erase what he can of the security logs, their entrance, and his intrusions, and he stands, unplugging everything, retrieving the datatap, and slinging the case over his shoulder as he moves out into the hall to rejoin the team, flashing the trademark crooked grin at everyone as he gives the thumbs up.

"Alright guys, I'm pretty sure I can handle this lock. Give me a few minutes to work on it and I'll have the package."

Wraith takes out his tools and goes to work, slowly and methodically.

:: After carefully removing the plate, you deactivate the security shock system, then wire that charge back into the unit and short it out. With a soft click, you hear the bolt disengage allowing you in the small converted office. Against the wall, is the last door standing in the way of your objective. Upon seeing it, you realize that you wont be able to jimmy this one. It's solid steel without a single hinge, or mechanizm on it. ::

"Ok. I've got us to the door. Jack, I'm gunna need you to get back into that security system and see if there is a way for you to hack it open. If not, we may have to go after Mr Pres."

After circling the building, Ember returns to her body, coming to with a little shudder.

Great, this is getting better and better. Trace moves to Wraiths location and takes a quick look at the door.

"Sully, move to the presidents door and be ready to go in after him if we have to."

"Only problem there, boss, is that his door is as tight as the one guarding the package. But we'll see. Sully, if you spot any access panel, let me know."

As Ember returns to the physical plane, PD turns around in the driver's seat, "Everything green in there?"

"We may have been made," Ember replies. "Lets keep an eye out for any backup and keep our fingers crossed."

What the hell had Crimson been doing there? There were several possibilities, and none of them to Ember's liking.
She senses Wyrm's unrest mirroring her own, but he remains silent.
I knew I didn't like that woman.

"I'm pretty sure I can do it, but it's not going to be pretty, and it's not going to be quiet. Once I pop it I'll probably have to crash the whole system to keep from getting wiped."

He grins, titling the edge of an imaginary hat. "Sure does sound like fun though," as he ducks back into the room, re-establishing the tap and diving back into his deck.

He jacks in, speeding straight for the heavily guarded node.

Jack:

:: The virtual guards seem momentarily surprised at your brazen assualt on their territory. It takes them a moment to react to the initial intrusion, but they are hot on your tail within a heart beat. ::

:: Skidding into the circular room, you temporarily lose your bearings. However the place of your entrance becomes apparant as a black inky substance seems to begin tainting the room from that point forward. ::

:: Freezing momentarily, you stare in awe before your adreneline kicks back into gear. First you send out your search program to locate the necessary packets of information. Within a breath you hear the taletell barking of your search program and respond by flying upwards, the inky virus hot on your trail. ::

:: Finding the storage location for the command file you begin to feel the devouring IC envelope your boots. Momentarily distracted, you turn just in time to watch as your search hound howls in agony; it's code consumed by the angry IC. ::

:: Cursing the loss of the valuable program, you turn back to the command file before you and flip the switch. With your next action, you trigger your fast escape routine and your horse appears beneath you. Riding straight through the now incorporeal walls, it gallops a safe distance away before you disconnect from the system. The IC seems to have also destroyed another of your programs as you were fleeing. ::

Wraith:

:: Jack said it would be quick, but dangerous. He wasn't lying about the first part at least. Within 5 seconds, the heavy steel door disengages from the wall and swings towards you. ::

:: Inside, it looks like a morgue, only the drawers don't seem deep enough to hold cadavers. Each is steel and has a small placard in front of it, labeled only by numbers. All in all, there appear to be 10 seperate containers. Some larger than others. ::

"Giddyup, good job Jack." Trace says as he moves through the door. "Wraith, check the room make sure there aren't any more surprises waiting for us. PD, get ready for us, we will be out of here in less than five minutes."

Wraith steps up to the door and looks around the interior of the room, checking for any dangers. Over his shoulder he looks back to Trace, "Drag that desk over here. We can put it in the doorway to hold it open in case they have it set to automatically close."

With a nod Trace grabs the lip of the desk and pulls. He grunts with the strain but manages to drag it into place.

"Rodger that." PD hears over the comms. He slides his chair as far back as it can go and stretches his legs for a moment, arching his back and generally getting himself gear up to react as quickly as possible if necessary.

:: Almost the second you manage to maneuver the desk in place, the steel door attampts to reseal itself. Both the gears of the door and the steel of the desk clash as they struggle, but after what seems like an eternity, the groaning metal finally silences as the circuts in the door overload and fry out. ::

"Jack, the door tried to close and we had to jam it, that may cause an alarm to go off, see if you can find out for sure."

Trace slides over the table into the morge and helps Wraith find the armor.

Wraith sighs with releaf as the door jams open. Whew... Glad I thought of that one...

He slides over the table with Trace and starts to open the lockers, checking first to make sure they aren't trapped.

Sully moves back out in the main hall and keeps her senses focused outwards, making sure the team isn't surprised during the recovery of the prototype.

:: The drawers are unlabeled and locked, but the mechanism is more for show than actually tough. Assuming you can bypass the outer security, these leve 3 maglocks prove no trouble to Wraith. The only problem of course is time. ::

:: One by one, Wraith opens the drawers and moves to the next allowing Trace to check the drawers behind them. ::

:: About two-thirds of the drawers are annoying empty, however you find an odd assortment of items distributed in the remaining drawers. There's what looks like a prototype for a racing bike frame sans tires, a case filled with liquids with a small white tag that identifies it as fitness enhanced water trials, a set of 4 prototype golf clubs, and then you find it. The suit looks like a thicker version of form fit but with very unusual characteristics. While it seems hard in key areas, the chest, thighs, shins, forearms and biceps, it also is very flexible in all the joints and along the sides. However, it's not a simple as plates in key areas, but rather just a shift in the properties of the fabric. It graduates from the hard shell to the flexible sections with almost impercievable smoothness. It also seems that even in the softer areas, initial impact (even as minor as your hand grabbing it) is stiff at first before it loosens to allow movement. ::

:: Feeling the unrivaled armor beneath Traces hands, he suddenly realizes that no matter what BS the rest of this mission was involved in, this prototype was the real deal. ::

"Bingo! We have the prototype. Interior team should meet up at the east stairwell for exit. How are things looking outside PD?"

Wraith climbs over the table and helps Trace get himself and the armor over. He then moves to meet up with Sully and Jack at the stairs.

"Everything looks calm and cozy out here. You want me to pull the van around to the door or wait where I am?" PD responds.

:: Not two seconds after PD says the coast is clear, headlights appear on the street up ahead...heading on the Van's direction. ::

Trace slides back over the table, Armor tucked under his arm.

"Jack, Sully we are out of here. East stair well, 10 seconds, we all leave together. PD, Ember, ETA 30 seconds."

"ETA 30 seconds. Rodger. There is a car on the street coming towards us now. No threatening actions, yet, but I would advise caution. I'll keep you posted on it's actions."

Sully waits for each person to pass and brings up the rear. When we get to the exit point, let Wraith and me go first. She moves quickly and quietly keeping her senses alert.

:: As the car approaches, it seems to slow and a side halogen light illuminates your van. As it approaches, the yellow roof lights of the security patrol being rotating, identifying itself. ::

Ember slides into the front of the van next to PD as the patrol approaches. She quirks an eyebrow at him.

"Ready to get to know me a whole lot better?"

PD takes a deep breath and says over the comms, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have company. I repeat, we have company. The car is a security patrol. Ember and I are prepared to deal with them as best we can but could use backup when you get the chance."

Looking back at Ember, he winks and slips the concealing flap of his pants up so that his knives are within easy reach, "You got anything that can convince them that 'we're not the droids they're looking for?'"

Wraith doubletimes it down the stairs, then calmly walks through the downstairs breakroom, just slow enough for the Ruthenium to function. Once at the door, he pauses for Sully, then opens it to let her take the lead.

Trace holds up his hand before the team exits the building, "wait, PD and Ember may be able to deal with it."

"You guys let us know if you need intervention."

Wraith chuckles, "You say that like they'd see us coming..."

"Will do." PD responds to Trace's request. Turning to Ember, "Can you tell if there's any spell slingers over in the van that we'll need to deal with?"