Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:45 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

Professor tires to make sense of what he is hearing at the moment. "I'm hearing motor and crash sounds from over where the dog is. What's this about punching ghouls? Anybody know what is going on?"

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:45 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

"Check my sensor feed in your AR. Some wack-a-doo is running around a booby-trapped toxic wasteland punching ghouls in the face." Oswald meanwhile lined up another shot.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:45 PM, Redmond

The Woman turns to face the oncoming ghouls. One of them however, explodes quietly from the groin and drops to the street. The second attacks with the tenacity of an angry hornet, but with less success. The woman moves too fast, and what blows the man does land seem to do nothing. An informative scene for observers on the lady's talent in combat.
Meanwhile, in the virtual lobby of CATco Laboratories east tower, a Smart looking gentleman smiles at the metallic animal in front of him as he scans the Icon for irregularities

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:45 PM, Redmond

As the team's confused remarks about an audacious ganger fighting hand-to-hand with ghouls come flooding into his mind, Jovan struggles briefly to maintain a solid grasp on the the situation. He looks at his elemental Servant beside him with a baffled orange tint in his astral form, wordlessly requesting to be shown what the spirit means. The elemental mentally visualizes what it saw into Jovan's mind, and some of the orange bafflement and confusion leaves his Self. He smiles in slight amusement at the spirit's nonchalant way of conveying this strange event. That was quite aptly put, I must say. This is very unexpected, and utterly bizarre - from our view of things, it is a tiger. From my teammates' view of things, it is some sort of human ganger, high on audacity and bravado. He remembers something he read in a footnote in one of his hermetic books some time ago. Perhaps this is some sort of werecreature that has appeared. But what on earth is a weretiger doing out here?

He suddenly starts to see a pattern in the day's events. Everytime someone has been claimed by death, another runner has quickly popped out of nowhere to fill the vacancy. Heka, Thirty, Amber, all replaced with startling swiftness. Now, a mere few minutes after that shaman Acme was killed by architectural instability, some shapeshifting tiger creature conveniently pops out of nowhere in the middle of an abandoned toxin-ridden compound, kills the dog, and proceeds to deal Jovan a minor setback by attacking the ghouls leading him to Jonathan. It is as if someone is closely monitoring the group and subtly arranging replacement members shortly after a death. Ms. Johnson? Likely, but not necessarily the true mastermind. Ares? Bugs? Shedim contracted by some megacorp? Dunkelzahn's ghost? That smuggler person that Professor spoke of earlier? Someone... more like him? His mind continues to be plagued by these paranoia-induced thoughts, and his elemental can see it, but one thing stands out clearly in his mind: he will not tolerate this kind of invisible scrutiny upon him. Whoever this entity keeping such a close eye on him is, he resolves to himself that he will find them, and he will deal harshly with them. But for now, at least, I suppose I should be polite and take advantage of the newest pawn initiate in our newest asset.

Alright, let's get moving again. One of the metahumans said other ghouls were heading towards the East Tower. Let's head in that direction a bit and find that ghoul. I'll let a watcher deal with the tiger. He flies through the side of the building opposite to the tiger-dog-ghoul debacle and moves off towards the tower and the background count that surrounded it. Watcher, to my location, quickly. Time for you to make up for your earlier behavior.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:45 PM, Redmond

Jade Tiger steps back from the remaining ghoul the miasma of the spirit flowing away from here, and the unnatural green glow fades from her eyes. With hidden snipers around, the loss of control caused due to possession from a tulpwa could be dangerous. Assessing the direction that the bullet arrived from, she follows it's trail back to where a seriously stealthy blimp was hovering. Her eyes gazed into the blimp's cameras for a fraction of a second before she positions herself so that the ghoul is between her and the gun.

Focusing her mana she unleashes a bolt of sleep inducing magic at the ghoul, preparing to use the unconscious ghoul as a shield.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:45 PM, Redmond

Ferret1 freezes as the IC scans over him. His form shimmers, morphing into a generic CatCo employee icon, although he still retains his rodentlike features.

Just another corp drone coming to work. Nothing to see here. Move along! he chants silently, hoping the guardian IC sees nothing that will trigger it's full attention or worse, an attack.

As he holds his breath, he focuses part of his attention on Ferret2, hoping to glean some information from the transmitted data packet that he might be able to use to spoof his way past the watchful IC.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:45 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

"Nice shootin Oz, remind me if I begin to slot ya off. I don't wann end up like dat."

Zo chuckles as he continues to examine the ghould carefully for any signs of it's origins or its commlink. Thinking for a moment he rips off the RFID tag off the shirt tag the ghoul has on him.

"Prof, when were done here, we might be able to track where dis ghoul came from using dis."

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Redmond

While the dual-natured shifter looks hither and thither in the astral, searching for the aura of a metahuman sniper who does not exist, a watcher appears on the scene through the wall of a nearby building, and manifests close by. It hovers a short distance away from the shifter, again taking the form of a disembodied eyeball roughly the size of a basketball. "Are you looking for something? I suggest not looking for it that way; blimps tend to be rather difficult to spot from the astral. I doubt it's aiming for you, though, so calm yourself, little beast.

'O tiger's heart wrapt in a woman's hide!' What a fascinating and highly suspicious encounter this is. Identify yourself, tiger. In addition, answer me this question: you are looking for some sort of job, correct? Some way to procure nuyen, food, transportation, et cetera?" It pauses, as if thinking of something, then continues in a slightly arrogant tone. "Oh, you likely don't know that term, do you? Perhaps 'that kinda stuff' is more at your level. My apologies."

Privately, in the seclusion of the barren astral space several streets away, Jovan shudders to himself in disgust at such base, illogical, unsophisticated vocabulary.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

"That might work, Zo. We'd have to take a look at it to see if it has that kind of tracking memory built into it. That's not my specialty. Oswald or Ferret would be a better choice."

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Redmond

Jade Tiger looks askance at the watcher spirit, while keeping an eye on the blimp. "As it happens I am free to pursue employment options. I have just completed a task for my current employer and have no obligations to fulfil for a few days. As for identification, I am currently using the name Jade Tiger, and I have just dealt with this trash that was bothering you. At this stage in our relationship I am unwilling to reveal more about myself"

"So what form would this employment take? I do not do assassinations. I try not to harm those who do not ask for it. I am unlikely to oppose the Yakuza. Should these terms be acceptable to you, and the mission acceptable to me, my rates are an equal share. "

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Redmond

The strange woman drags the second ghoul, who had dropped suddenly as if exhausted from hitting her, and held him up as a shield. The night was quiet once again, aside from the woman talking to a ghostly eyeball in a crumbling city. The smell of death began to creep from newly fallen bodies. The burnt flesh from the explosion earlier wafted east to the were tiger's nose.

Ferret began to move away from the IC and it fell in line behind him, It hadn't seemed to have found anything too wrong so far, but it was definitely gong to scan again. The second ferret flashed back some info from the alert sent out from the node. It was an alert of a security breech, but it's destination was destroyed, so the data packet sat in limbo. ferret tore into the code looking for clues to how this system was written, and what type of protocol was used. It was pretty secure stuff, but old and unchanging. Once Ferret got the gist of it he adjusted his stealth setup to accommodate the system. Maybe the second scan will satisfy the curious doorman.

Zo's text message came back with an alert, NO SIGNAL. Not a message you see very often in the 2070's, but there it was. He was in the jungle, and no one would find him if he died.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Redmond

Ferret's icon twists and shimmers as he works to incorporate the ancient security protocols. The IC was making him nervous and the slow system wasn't helping. His icon stabilizes into that of a CatCo security decker. It's not his best work but he hopes it is good enough.

It's job done, he let Ferret2 derezz with a pop as he focuses his attention on getting past the nosy doorman.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Redmond


Staring at the AR--Zo looks suprised. "Well frag me, I don't have a slotting signal with the rest of da trix." Zo goes back to examining the dead ghoul in front of him.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Redmond

"A talking tiger named Jade Tiger. How enormously clever." The eye rolled itself. "The employment objective itself consists of the retrieval and delivery of several stolen trucks. Our employer hired a certain Big Daddy Long Legs and his team to steal and deliver the trucks from a larger Ares shipment to a location in Everett. After obtaining the trucks, Long Legs and his team proceeded to split and disappear. Thus the reason for sending us. Long Legs' hideout is somewhere in that toxic abandoned wasteland up ahead. Unfortunately, it seems that he has been overwhelmed and possibly eaten by a band of ghouls whose leader is apparently in league with the woman acting as our supervisor. Clearly the ghouls are intent on staying in this area, meaning that there is some sort of device or good within the trucks' cargo far more valuable than bombs, likely some sort of advanced tracking device or divining focus since the ghoul leader is no doubt aware of our approach. Oh, and there is also a mercenary group whose tactless belligerence has made them convince themselves that we want to wipe them out of existence. Complete nonsense. Our supervisor also knows more about them then she is telling, and is apparently in communication with them, which of course means she is aiding them in planning against us. So in essence, our employer, a band of brain-damaged ghouls, and a paramilitary outfit are all conspiring to bring about our doom, with the entire thing likely being a mere ruse by Ares to get their cargo back." Listening to such an explanation, one can get a subtle but distinct impression of the paranoia and slightly alien thought processes of the man communicating through the watcher.

The eye narrows its translucent pupil to focus on the woman more closely. "You look confused. I'm sure most of this is above your comprehension level, being an animal and all that. Perhaps my companions would be better able to explain it. They are just a few blocks south of here. I will bring you to them." At this, the eye turns around and flies off towards Cross Town Gas.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

"This one calls herself Jade Tiger. Professor, assense her aura when she arrives and I'm sure you will see why. I'll leave the explanation (or lack thereof) of her aura's unusual implications for us to your discretion. Anyway, she wishes to fill Acme's vacant spot in our group. I'm sending her to the station so that you lot can deal with job explanations and haggling and heartwarming introductions and all that; I must return to astral business."

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond


Oswald watched the ganger, holding the Ghoul as a hostage. There seemed to be some kind of communication happening, so it was safe to assume that Jovan has made contact with the daredevil. Good instincts on that one, but not to much for brains. Holding that ghoul would only make it more difficult to maneuver. I ain't here to give lessons or shoot dead ghouls though. "Nothing's moving out there, and Joe seems to have engaged this new element. Unless he still wants gun support, it's probably safe to send the Tower out towards an area with signal. So, I could have you in fresh matrix a minute or two from now. Just gotta reposition." Oz put out a blast of smoke from the blimp and turned it back toward civilization.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Redmond

Only pausing for a moment to summon a replacement Tulpwa: a concrete thought form that is often mistaken by the mislead as a spirit, Jade Tiger follows Jovan's directions to meet up with the others. "I am called Jade Tiger. I greet you. I have made an arrangement with your mage, who appears a little ... excitable. The deal is that I join you and assist you in the task of recovering some stolen trucks, in exchange for which I get an equal share with the rest of you. Is this acceptable to you?"

Jade Tiger waits for some confirmation from the others then continues

"A few quick questions will allow me to assist you without causing problems: I have deal with the howling Barghest and your rigger and I have dealt with the ghouls. Are there any further immediate threats that I need to know about? Are we currently infiltrating anywhere...if so do you wish me to scout ahead?"

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:46 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

No end to the surprises in this business. Our new Metahuman Resources Manager is the team paranoiac.

No problem, Jovan. Send the new meat over.

'New meat'. Oh dear.

Professor feels his boosted physical traits melt away. He concentrates and threads mana through his muscles once again.

Oh... that feels good. I wish I could keep it like this!

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:52 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

With no threats on the immediate horizon, Oswald let the blimp fly autopilot and just fidgeted through his Cram high as he watched the drone's sensors in AR.

"Equal share?! Jove, what did you tell this girl? This ain't no money haul; it's a pay for play contract. You negotiate pay with the employer, not with us. But, if she wants to pay you the standard rate just for putting in the 30 minutes work it's going to take to kill our way through this toxic rathole, then that's between you and her. As to what's going on, the halfer with the wire in his head is locking down the PLTG, I'm patrolling the countryside and watching your ass from the sky, and the mage you talked to is covering the astral. Meanwhile, you, the jolly green giant, and the little guy in the Stetson are going to march 3 kilometers back in the direction you just came from to find us some trucks full of guns and, apparently, communications equipment."

He looked up at the newcomer and sighed.
"Follow those guys."

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:52 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

"Names Zo, and she ain't no ganger--so I'z got no problems with her. You can take his share" Zo thumbs toward the smashed corpse of Acme. Zo continues,"Not sure what the eyeball ghost told ya, but he's our astral security. Prof here is ou[r rsident data analyst and on-site wiz support. Ferret does the trix, Oz can too but he's da wheelman, me I'm the hired gun and I guess resident tour guide for Redmond.--Acme was also wiz support--so do you sling spells or what?"

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:52 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

Professor studies the newcomer astrally. Her Were nature becomes clear, as well as her magical talents. A creature of action, rather than planning. A good foil to Professor's love of analysis. Planning sessions should be fun.

!! Now there's something you don't see every day! This group gets stranger and stranger as we go.

"Well, well. A cool cat as they used to say in the old days. Now I know why you were unafraid to get close and personal with the ghouls. You could be very useful in this situation. My name is Professor. I welcome you if you are willing to work with us, and yes, the share allotted to our newly departed friend, Acme, is up for grabs.

"I should warn you. I don't know what the hell is going on, but there seems to be a phenomenal attrition rate on this run, as well as an equally odd propensity for replacements to show up, even before we call for them, as is the case now.

"I can't say for sure something or someone is manipulating the run ... I'm not quite as focused on hidden agendas as Jovan is ... but a keen, cautious eye about you is in order."

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:52 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

The professor was not wrong about Jade Tiger being a creature of action. Still action has to be tempered with preparation. Only when the time is right, and the chance of a kill is high does the tiger pounce.

"I understand your concerns about a high number of deaths. Probably the weaker among you died. My mother taught me that even the weak have value, and that compassion has its place, as long as it doesn't get you killed, so I express my regrets for the deaths of your companions. She also taught me that if you are being hunted, and it sounds as though you are, then you have to circle back and hunt the hunters. Do you know who hunts you?"

"If you do not know who is hunting you then we must draw them into the open. We can do that by hiding, or by stealing the prize. I personally find it difficult to run and hide at a time like this, so I propose that we steal their prize. "

"I gather you are investigating a place. Do you wish me to use my not inconsiderable stealth skills to investigate that place, or shall I stay here?"

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:53 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

Professor endures the reciprocal Assensing of his own aura. Turnabout is fair.

"An interesting take on the loss of our erstwhile teammates. In the metahuman jungle, it is sometimes the strong who are targeted first. And sometimes bad luck just happens.

"The original owners of the cargo, Ares Corporation, is known to be seeking it, but we have not met their agents yet, to the best of our knowledge. Our guess is they have lost track of their quarry.

"We are at odds with a mercenary group called the 12 Vipers. Our last encounter with them reduced that number significantly. It appears they are after Big Daddy Long Legs too, though ostensibly for a different cargo. That may be a ruse, and they may be agents of Ares. Through some distorted, militaristic honour-ego trip, they feel we are their mortal enemies now, despite having been offered the opportunity to join forces and reach our respective goals without further wasted effort on competition.

"There is also a ghoul presence in this area, of unknown numbers, led by a sentient ghoul who has some connection to our employer, which employer is not forthcoming with details of that connection. You just met part of that presence.

"The attrition we have endured seems only partially attributable to those forces.

"As far as reconnaissance, our hacker" he points a thumb at Ferret, "is currently checking out the target area via the local, antiquated Matrix. We also have drones and spirits available to check things out before we risk lives. Personally, I am glad to see a warrior on our side again, and would appreciate you staying here for the moment while we learn as much as we can about the objective through those three means. Especially since the virus that creates ghouls from metahumans is not likely to cause you any harm."

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:52 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

Jade Tiger nods. "Very well"

Jade Tiger moves to seek a vantage point that will offer a good view of her new colleagues, and any incoming threats, while allowing her concealment and cover.

Muttering a few words to focus her mind she blurs her appearance making her look like one of the predators from the old 2D movies.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:54 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

"We've apparently cleared the way to the complex. Staying here is not helping. If we start walking now, we can be there in 30 minutes. If we haven't managed astral recon by then, or if Ferret hasn't established BDLL's presence on the network and gained control of whatever booby traps he may have left wired in, then it's never going to happen. If you still wanna talk, then talk and walk. For now, I'm sick of sitting here smelling dead elf."

Oswald stood and walked out the gas station, heading north, laser in hand, AR in his eyes.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:54 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

Professor makes a mental note to rewrite his lecture notes on Anarchy. Oswald has given him new insight into the topic.

"Here we go splitting up again. Ferret is busy in the Matrix. Jovan ... I think ... is sending out some spirits to scout. Oswald is out in the open and heading towards the target buildings. Jade, shit, you better keep Oswald safe from any ghouls. Zo, you wanna stay and keep Ferret's hoop out of the fire? And catch up when he comes back into our worlds? Jade, if you have any spell to speed me up, I can keep it going and tag along out in the more likely fire zone. Besides, we need drivers if we find the trucks."

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:54 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

The Jade Tiger blinked slowly as she separated herself from her summoned thought form. "You can maintain my magical energies you say professor. Well that's a neat trick that I will have to see! However to move faster I usually use summoned thought forms, or vehicles. Given the dearth of vehicles I suggest that we run". She concentrating hard for nearly 20 seconds as various magical energies course though her body, then the world starts to become blurry and a green mist rises from the ground and forms around the professor and Jade Tiger. "Very well now we can move quicker, and we are less likely to be seen. We should ask Oswald if we wishes to join us. Oh and could you ping me the groups matrix identities so that I can talk to you electronically?"

Checking to see that the professor is moving with her and watching her environment very carefully, Jade Tiger strides out after Oswald.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:54 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

"Here are our matrix identities." Professor makes an ARO available to Jade Tiger. "Thanks for the speed-up from your spirit. That should help lots. Let's catch Oswald and pull him along for the ride!

"As far as spelling me, increasing my reflexes would be good. I'm pretty slow on the draw compared to the rest of the team. I can channel the mana to keep your spell sustained on me, freeing you, and you can cast it at its maximum effect. basically, I'm my own high force, universal sustaining focus." Professor looks pleased with himself, as if he is explaining one of his new excavation tools.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

Considering the Professors request, the Jade Tiger considers her options. Most of the ways that she focus's mana only affected herself. Still some of them could be focused on other people... Perhaps this one. Forcing her mind to shape the mana, she concentrated on allowing the professor to perceive better, and to understand more of what he saw. "There you go".

<<Oswald: We are coming too. Don't shoot us as we approach. Would you like a speed up?>>

As the Jade Tiger and the Professor speed after Oswald, she focused her mind on the thought image she had just conjured into being, and included Oswald in the green mist. Together the three headed off towards the complex.

"If we see any ghouls do we engage or leave them be?"

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

After finding nothing else on the ghoul Zo looks finally noticing that Oz is wandering off. Man, dat breeder needs an ol' folks home--probably some meds too walking off into the barrens by himself.

"Oz keep da blimp nearby, till we clear dis place out. I'd sooner have da air support dan a trix connection. Plus it keeps an eye on what is goin on around us. Jade and Prof, go ahead wit Oz. We'll catch up later."


<@Ferret>Oz is going forward ta inspect da buildings with professor. I'za hopin' you'll be finished soon enough in dere. By the way Jade pussy cat has agreed to join us for Acme's share since he don't be neein it no more and we kinda need her help.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

Professor's scramble to readjust the plan to accommodate Oswald's impetuous action seems to sit well enough with the others. Jade Tiger's useful magic stirs things up some. Professor first feels the rush of speed... or is it a distortion of space?... of the spirit's power.

Jade Tiger's spell stretching his intuitive right brain has a profound effect on him as well. Details of his environment pop out in ways he has never experienced. Oh. Now I see. That's how the spirit's power works. How obvious! He steps out of the building and yet more insight floods his mind. The way these buildings are arranged... yes, now I see what Hillier and Hanson were getting at in Social Logic of Space. But of course... they missed the tactile/material component entirely! Dear God! I hope I remember this when the spell drops. Man, I'm going to have to talk to Jade Tiger about this. The things we could accomplish!

"Jade, this spell is having an amazing effect. We will have to talk later."

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

<<@Zo, Team: What? Jade who? Look I got some nosy IC on my tail, literally on my tail. If I can't lose it in the next couple of seconds, I'm bugging out and we'll just have to do things the hard way. So hang on a couple of counts and I'll be right with you.>>

The disguised Ferret tries to ignore the IC's piercing gaze. Inside the garage, his body twitches and sweat beads on his forehead as he tries to maintain his cool in the digital realm.

Come on you nosy piece of drek. Go find something else to bother.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond

The IC on Ferret's tail scans a second time, and decides to head back to the front door for the next newcomer. With security access, Ferret has keys to the virtual building, and so far he's under the radar.

The twin condos that frame the south entrance into the site are big and blocky. at one time they looked to have been sparkling white with steel trim, but the sparkle is gone. The paint is worn and faded. Signs along the road warn of the hazards inside, at least, some of the hazards anyway. On the Astral plane, there is a dark mist of energy swirling ahead. Not as sickening as glow city, but more sinister. There was a great many hopes dashed here. The loss of like was only a fraction of what was lost when that lab exploded. This is the kind of mana generated from tragedy. A few small buildings line the streets beyond. According to the maps, the mall is directly ahead and the towers are a few blocks beyond that, whats left of them anyway.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond

Ferret can feel the data requests from the IC scanning him as he moves past it. Then it turns away and he's in. He gives a short squeek of triumph, punching the virtual air with one ratlike claw as he lets his icon revert back it's normal rodent form. He scuttles off in search of the security system to see what he can find.

<<@Team: I'm into the Tower's node. I'll see if I can find out what put it on alert and feed you images from any security cameras still operating.>>

He pauses a for moment in a quiet sub-system to gather his thoughts and let his racing heart return to something approaching normal. He reads the earlier message from Zo about Jade Tiger and then watches the blimp's footage of her in action.

Jeez, Acme's body wasn't even cold and a replacement turns up. What the frag is going on here?

<<@Team {exclude: Jade}: Am I being a little too paranoid or do any of you guys also find the Tiger lady's sudden appearance just a little too much of a coincidence.>>

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond

Professor considers the private mesaage for a moment, and looks over at Jade Tiger beside him as they catch up to Oswald.

<<@Team{Exclude Jade}: We should probably leave paranoia to our resident expert, Jovan. The coincidence does seem too good to be true. But let's examine the possibilities. The assumption in paranoia would be that there is some force outside ourselves that is manipulating the situation, possibly our employers.

If that force wanted us dead, and was engineering the death of team members, then seeing as how creatively and varyingly our past team members have died, I suspect we would all be dead.

If that force wanted us to straight out fail to achieve our target, it would either not have hired us, or not have supplied reinforcements.

If that force wanted us to reach the target but then fail, perhaps as a distraction, then it would either have again not replaced losses, or hired a noisy, cheap gang or team to do the distraction.

If that force wants us to succeed in acquiring the cargo and return it, and then do us in, it would not have engineered deaths along the way.

If that force is some freakazoid, puppet-master wannabe, then possibly this whole run is a ploy to entertain him/them. But in that case, Jade Tiger is just as much a dupe as the rest of us, and should probably be included in our number as soon as possible simply for the sake of firepower on our side.

I saw nothing in her aura to suggest duplicity or malicious intent towards us. In fact, she seems remarkably straightforward and disingenuous for this business. I'm willing to trust her. >>

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond

<<@Team{Exclude Jade}: An if dis is a setup, ta kill us, take da goods, slot an run? What should da back-up plan be? How we'z gonna approach Ms. J at the end meet an hope ta not have da Vipers show up? Dead man's trigger with some C12?>>

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond

<<@team{Exclude Jade}: I honestly don't think we are being set up. There may have been too much 'need to know' going on in our employers' minds, but I think we are still being employed for a real run with the option for more if we do well. Now, is part of this run a test to see how good we are? Heh.

If it turns out we were set up to be discarded by our employer, then the employer needs to discover the error of his ways.>>

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond, heading north

<<@Team: After we get the cargo, we've still got about five days to kill before the pickup. We'll be storing the trucks in my warehouse, which has a good deal of explos.. I mean, security to ensure that it and we will not be molested. I tried to convince Acme to set up an astral ward there for us, but his lazy elf ass couldn't be bothered. Not that it would have mattered, what with him beginning the fantastic journey of cellular decomposition, but I'd appreciate one of you fancy fucks taking the time later.>>

<<@Team{exclude Jade}: You're a bunch of Dwarfs and Orks and Elfs and such walking around casting magic on zombies and hell-dogs and you can't wrap your head around a few coincidences? This whole world is made of magical bullshit. If you can't roll with it, you might as well give up.>>

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond, heading north

The watcher-eye that had been floating in the gas station remained there to stay in touch with the ganger and Ferret, while the watcher-eye that had led the newest recruit to the gas station followed silently behind Professor, Oswald, and the werecreature. "I can See that you're concerned about something, you know," the two Jovan voices said simultaneously to their respective groups. "It would help and behoove you to keep me in the loop, as I cannot make out your subvocal transmissions in the Astral. Unless you are conspiring against me, of course."

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:47 PM, Redmond

The darkness contained in this place bore down heavily on Jovan's astral form. He could already feel it beginning to stifle him. It had a less metaphysical effect on him as well. For a long moment, Jovan floated silently in front of the south end of the site, held morbidly spellbound by the texture and smell of pure despair hanging in the astral. Finally, with a gesture to his elemental to follow him, he went inside.

Yet something was still gnawing at him in the back of his mind, even after he resolutely shut out the horrific sense of loss bombarding his astral senses. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he had missed going into this place. That must mean that there was indeed something he had missed; after receiving the painful blessing that was transformation into a nosferatu, he had gradually found that his intelligence and intuition were much greater than their pre-Infection levels. He had come to trust his intuition, because his intuition was almost always right. He wasn't about to start doubting it now. But what was it that he had missed?

It was only after scouting out the perimeter of the cross-shaped mall, and taking a quick look through its southern wing while the Elemental checked the east wing, that the answer came to him within the choking confines of the toxic background count. Something seemed off about the detail with that dwarf woman's --Amber, wasn't that her name?-- commlink. To Professor, it had seemed like a security risk; that was of course not a possibility to take lightly, but he felt like it deserved a bit more investigation. It would also help him judge whether Professor was truly as intellectually competent as he claimed.

In all honesty, the young man was also rather curious about who the woman had been talking to before she died.

Jovan listened to the spirit's report on what it had found in the mall before voicing his suspicion. I feel that that commlink you turned off needs a bit more investigation. Let's take a break from this deathtrap and return to the van for a bit. I'm going to need you to turn on the deceased owner's commlink again and show me her most recent communications, please. I would do it myself, but my body is securely locked inside the other vehicle. You may consider this an actual task, as well. Then we can come back here and resume our scouting.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond

<<@Team[Jade Tiger]: I can sort out the wards and a watcher or three. So how far away is this place?>>

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond, heading north

Ferret scuttles around the CatCo Tower node, sniffing out cameras to peer through.

<<@Team{exclude Jade}: Roger that, Prof. Leave the paranoia to our resident mage. Guess I'm still taking in Acme's sudden demise. And Oz is right: it's a fragged up world. A few coincidences could be just that, but there are still ghouls and who knows what out there so let's not let our guard down, neh?>>


<<@Team: Hi Jade. I'm Ferret. I've been kind of busy trying to hack the ancient drek that passes for a matrix connection here. Our current options look to be the Bistro here {map coordinate, image}, the mall here {map coordinate, video of car crashing into it} and the East Tower {map coordinate}. I've just made it into the Tower node and will shortly be transmitting any useful data I find.>>

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond, heading north

<<@team: Given that Ferret is ferreting info from the tower first, we might as well head to that building first. Oswald, I don't believe our contract includes storage of the cargo for that long. When we find it, we can deliver it to the shipyard. It just has to be there -by- the seventh day. we may need your facility till we can arrange a time to deliver, though.>>

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:56 PM, Redmond, Gas Station
"Jovie, but what does a horse havfta do with dis?..." Zo waits a little bit, and continues "Part ya british or somethin? Anywayz, we just talkin about getting fragged by the Johnson, Viper 12 or whatever dey call themselves now dat dere is less than 12, the ghouls, a trap of Big daddy's, and using C12 as a deadman's trigger to ensure dat the J pays us an we don't end up dead. Just the run of da mill paranoia so we'ze can go slotting joygirls, and drinkin tomorrow."

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:56 PM, Redmond, heading north

<<@team: I'd hate to remit custody of the goods until we sort out our troubles with the psychopathic merc crew. I'd additionally hate to give up anything I might want to take for myself. I'm sure Ferret would appreciate an upgrade of comm gear as well if we can swing that.>>

"If you're so worried, listen to your comm log when you get back to your body, Joe. Speaking of which, what's the status on Rusty and V5? They still on board the 'nobody moves, nobody gets hurt' plan? I'd hate to see- ah fuck! My toe! Why's it gotta be so dark out here!"

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:56 PM, Redmond

<<@Team[Jade Tiger]:

Pleasure to meet you Ferret. Nice to meet a competent Decker.

So a couple of thoughts for you all:

if we assume the Viper 12 are called such a name because if their snake like properties, I think that we can assume that they are good at hiding and waiting, as the Viper is an ambush predator. Do we have reason to believe that they will be here first? I am much less worried about ghouls than I am about a competent mercenary group.

I don't know all your capabilities yet. Do we have a mage among us capable of summoning convincing illusions? If there is it would be informative to have illusions of our selves walk carefully and cautiously (thus giving a sniper a good opportunity to take a pot shot) at our illusions. >>

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond,

The Ferret strolls through the halls of the digital tower. Flipping off the current alert, he checks its origins. It seems the basement motion detectors and several door alarms were triggered. The alert is cross referenced with video. A swarm of ghouls fan out in what looks like an underground warehouse. automated security mounts in the ceiling open fire. One of the pack is armed with an assault rifle, and has the mental capacity to return fire at the mechanical sentries. There's a damage read out reporting gyro damage on mount 901. The armed ghoul retreats and the others flee for cover in several directions, ducking behind forklifts and boxes. Both guns now report ammo depleted. and the ghouls seemed to have retreated through some large underground tunnel. Blood streaks stain the floor from the battle. Other cameras have also captured ghouls going through different rooms ransacking and sniffing around. It's hard to get a count because of their muted features and similar dress, but ten would probably be a low estimate.

In the Astral, the mall is a confusing mash of non-living shapes. There is a soft glow of water strewn in puddles and filling a large central fountain. The Spirit reports a trace of magic at the wreckage in front of the mall,"This vehicle was hit with a spell, all be it indirectly. A curious signature".
Jovan is intent on his detour back to the trucks, probably puzzling through his intuition for more details.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond

<<@Team: Looks like the tower is ghoul central. {video of ghoul swarm}. I can't be sure but I'm estimating ten-plus, at least one of which is armed with and knows how to use an assault rifle. I also see some forklifts {image} and crates {image} in the basement that could be part of BDLL's missing shipment. I'm going to take a last look around and set up some scripts, then I think I'm done here.>>

Ferret skitters from camera to camera, trying to determine the location and number of any ghouls still in the Tower. He then focuses his attention on the nodes security protocols, gnawing and scratching at the icon, as he attempts to alter the system's programming.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:55 PM, Redmond

<<@team: I suppose it is possible the cargo has been divided. Maybe some even put into use. That would be unfortunate. I don't know whether it's a good idea to take on the ghouls if the cargo, or the bulk of it, is elsewhere. We're still enroute, the three of us. I suspect at our speed thanks to Jade a 40 minute walk will be about ten minutes.

If you could give us a look at the other buildings while we're on the way, Ferret, we may be able to make an informed choice as to where to go. If the other buildings are not possible, then the tower is our best bet, as we at least have surveillance on our side. Maybe once we're there, we could even re-load the automatic defenses again, since I assume Ferret is now in control of them.>>

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:56 PM, Redmond

<<@team: Um...Jovie does da guy in da trid with da gun match the guy you waz lookin fur?