Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:38 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Professor tries a hunch. "Rusty, if Long Legs wanted to hide something big, physically big, is there a place you know of he would tend to use?"
Full Version: IC: Post or Die
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Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:39 PM, Oswald's Rover, near the body mall, Redmond
God, I'm such an idiot. If one thing is compromised, then everything is compromised. We need to get some privacy back.
<<@Yacht Club: I don't know if your signal is compromised or not. I'd rather not assume anything, so as long as we plan on the VPN and no one's comm has been hacked for the keys, we don't have to worry about our signals getting intercepted since this shit doesn't stream like comm chatter does. Age and beauty all in the same package, hahaha. As to the Crusher territory plan, I'm not against it, but like Jovan said, what you see is only part of what's there. You ever use stealth tags before? They can't be detected. They use pulse transmissions on pre-set shifting frequencies. If there's one on you, then you won't find it. Well, at least not so that we can edit the feed. So it's likely we can't fool your pursuer as to your whereabouts with a bit of edit action. Your only option is to lead him to where you want him to be, and feed him the info you want him to have. That or just wipe the tags and be done with him. But, the way I hear it, BDLL's pad is a death-trap of sorts. Maybe you could just lead him there, then "reconsider" and go somewhere else. Meanwhile, Jovan and I will stake the place out while you ditch your ride and we circle in on the guy. We should do it like The Last Crusade. Let the Nazi's go first and teach us how to beat the traps by their failure. Wait.. I just realized that none of you would get that reference. Anyway, the point still stands. Lead the opposition to the death pad and then chicken out. Thoughts?>>
<<@team: I think you should head to the local Yacht Club. The guards there will keep anyone from following you. Ahh, just kidding, you know what to do.>>
God, I'm such an idiot. If one thing is compromised, then everything is compromised. We need to get some privacy back.
<<@Yacht Club: I don't know if your signal is compromised or not. I'd rather not assume anything, so as long as we plan on the VPN and no one's comm has been hacked for the keys, we don't have to worry about our signals getting intercepted since this shit doesn't stream like comm chatter does. Age and beauty all in the same package, hahaha. As to the Crusher territory plan, I'm not against it, but like Jovan said, what you see is only part of what's there. You ever use stealth tags before? They can't be detected. They use pulse transmissions on pre-set shifting frequencies. If there's one on you, then you won't find it. Well, at least not so that we can edit the feed. So it's likely we can't fool your pursuer as to your whereabouts with a bit of edit action. Your only option is to lead him to where you want him to be, and feed him the info you want him to have. That or just wipe the tags and be done with him. But, the way I hear it, BDLL's pad is a death-trap of sorts. Maybe you could just lead him there, then "reconsider" and go somewhere else. Meanwhile, Jovan and I will stake the place out while you ditch your ride and we circle in on the guy. We should do it like The Last Crusade. Let the Nazi's go first and teach us how to beat the traps by their failure. Wait.. I just realized that none of you would get that reference. Anyway, the point still stands. Lead the opposition to the death pad and then chicken out. Thoughts?>>
<<@team: I think you should head to the local Yacht Club. The guards there will keep anyone from following you. Ahh, just kidding, you know what to do.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:38 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Professor pipes in after Oswald's comments. <<@team: Switching to text in case they can hear us in the car. So, it looks like we need to decide whether to ditch the tail completely, by destroying all bugs in the car, or even the car, or setting a trap where we are being proactive, as opposed to reactive. The latter sounds good to me. Continually reacting in any game eventually leads to losing. Is a Crusher location Ferret can get for us useful in this regard, or do we go to someplace else? I don't have any other place to suggest.>>
Professor pipes in after Oswald's comments. <<@team: Switching to text in case they can hear us in the car. So, it looks like we need to decide whether to ditch the tail completely, by destroying all bugs in the car, or even the car, or setting a trap where we are being proactive, as opposed to reactive. The latter sounds good to me. Continually reacting in any game eventually leads to losing. Is a Crusher location Ferret can get for us useful in this regard, or do we go to someplace else? I don't have any other place to suggest.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Crew groaned and rubbed his chest,"Damn old timer, whats with the lightning rod?"Rusty looked at him with his lip curled in irritation,"That's what happens when you go waiving your gun around like a party favor"
Strawberry rubs Crew's head to comfort him while Rusty responded to the dwarf's question,"Big Daddy's place is huge. If he gets hired for a job, it's usually because there's heavy lifting involved. I don't know if this helps, but the area he stays in is old school, no wireless at all. It's also pretty much abandoned due to the unstable buildings and deadly toxins. I'm sure anyone following us would stick out like a sore thumb"
Jovan heard the air spirit whispering in his mental ear,"Double trouble, I have found two fairly healthy men, if you discount the man made shadows inside them. They are in a vehicle of some sort. They seem calm"
Crew groaned and rubbed his chest,"Damn old timer, whats with the lightning rod?"Rusty looked at him with his lip curled in irritation,"That's what happens when you go waiving your gun around like a party favor"
Strawberry rubs Crew's head to comfort him while Rusty responded to the dwarf's question,"Big Daddy's place is huge. If he gets hired for a job, it's usually because there's heavy lifting involved. I don't know if this helps, but the area he stays in is old school, no wireless at all. It's also pretty much abandoned due to the unstable buildings and deadly toxins. I'm sure anyone following us would stick out like a sore thumb"
Jovan heard the air spirit whispering in his mental ear,"Double trouble, I have found two fairly healthy men, if you discount the man made shadows inside them. They are in a vehicle of some sort. They seem calm"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Professor considers Rusty's comment. <<If we go to Long Legs' hideout as Rusty suggests, we may draw our competitors there with us. Big shootout at the OK Corral, anyone? This could work in our favor if we are prepared for the toxins and instability and they are not. Or we could ditch the van, steal another vehicle, and go there unobserved.>>
Professor considers Rusty's comment. <<If we go to Long Legs' hideout as Rusty suggests, we may draw our competitors there with us. Big shootout at the OK Corral, anyone? This could work in our favor if we are prepared for the toxins and instability and they are not. Or we could ditch the van, steal another vehicle, and go there unobserved.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Oswald's Rover, near the body mall, Redmond
Tell me more about these men. Are they on the move, or staying in one place? What kind of shape and size does their vehicle have? And the men themselves - does it seem like they are doing anything of note? Where are those shadows located in their bodies?
Jovan turned his attention back to the plan. <<@Yacht Club: I do not believe this would be an opportune time to go visit Long Legs' place. Firstly, if we showed up there and attempted to negotiate with Long Legs, only to have our tails drop in uninvited, he could come to believe that we are members of that team sent to distract him and leave him vulnerable. The resulting crossfire would no doubt be quite fatal. Secondly, we know little about the area. We have no way of knowing how effective his traps are, or even if he has traps in place. For all we know, he could be dead and all his traps sprung. We should not rely on second-hand information that BDLL lives in a death-trap.
Third. Rusty mentioned that there is no Matrix grid at the hideout in question. And if there is any background count at all, watcher spirits become utterly useless; I also have no bound spirits on hand to make up for it. That essentially means that we would have no channels of communication, and thus easy pickings if we just 'happen' to become separated in such a large place. We cannot afford to go in there unprepared.>>
Tell me more about these men. Are they on the move, or staying in one place? What kind of shape and size does their vehicle have? And the men themselves - does it seem like they are doing anything of note? Where are those shadows located in their bodies?
Jovan turned his attention back to the plan. <<@Yacht Club: I do not believe this would be an opportune time to go visit Long Legs' place. Firstly, if we showed up there and attempted to negotiate with Long Legs, only to have our tails drop in uninvited, he could come to believe that we are members of that team sent to distract him and leave him vulnerable. The resulting crossfire would no doubt be quite fatal. Secondly, we know little about the area. We have no way of knowing how effective his traps are, or even if he has traps in place. For all we know, he could be dead and all his traps sprung. We should not rely on second-hand information that BDLL lives in a death-trap.
Third. Rusty mentioned that there is no Matrix grid at the hideout in question. And if there is any background count at all, watcher spirits become utterly useless; I also have no bound spirits on hand to make up for it. That essentially means that we would have no channels of communication, and thus easy pickings if we just 'happen' to become separated in such a large place. We cannot afford to go in there unprepared.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:42 PM, Oswald's Rover, near the body mall, Redmond
<<@Yacht Club: GTS Tower, designation Sky-pod. The "Tower" part refers to the fact that its primary function is as retrans unit. 10 kilometer radius and all that. I could provide Matrix access to half the barrens with that puppy, if I opened its channels up. So, communications will not be a problem, particularly over the VPN, since only sporadic connection is needed to communicate. We're talking a few thousand bites at a time. Not exactly simsense. There's good news about the dead zone though. It means that our boy won't be able to route the RFID sensor feeds through the matrix, so he'd literally need to keep about 10 car-lengths behind you to keep his signal up. If you wanted to lose him, that'd be the place.
As to BDLL being dead, I wouldn't rule it out. I'd think that maybe his curiosity about the cargo did him in, but anything that dangerous, and we'd have a serious Ares presence on hand. Maybe Ares hired the first team, and our most recent interested party is just playing scavenger? You know, looking for Legs for reasons unrelated to our cargo. But, regardless of our speculation back here, it's your asses on the line up there if we're headed to the chem plant, so the final decision falls on you. I'll make the blimp cut wifi and follow you on autonomous autopilot. If I have it blink its signal on every 30 seconds or so to keep the VPN active and let me re-establish my subscription as needed, we should be able to stay in contact, while keeping it matrix-invisible. OpFor can't find it on a signal sweep if it's only doing burst transmissions like that. Besides, I need to follow you in the car, and I'd rather not juggle direct control of two vehicles at once. It's distracting. So, who's got the biggest antenna in that car? I need to know how far out to have it follow you from.>>
With that, Oswald turned the Rover back on and prepared to leave the Body Mall parking lot.
<<@Yacht Club: GTS Tower, designation Sky-pod. The "Tower" part refers to the fact that its primary function is as retrans unit. 10 kilometer radius and all that. I could provide Matrix access to half the barrens with that puppy, if I opened its channels up. So, communications will not be a problem, particularly over the VPN, since only sporadic connection is needed to communicate. We're talking a few thousand bites at a time. Not exactly simsense. There's good news about the dead zone though. It means that our boy won't be able to route the RFID sensor feeds through the matrix, so he'd literally need to keep about 10 car-lengths behind you to keep his signal up. If you wanted to lose him, that'd be the place.
As to BDLL being dead, I wouldn't rule it out. I'd think that maybe his curiosity about the cargo did him in, but anything that dangerous, and we'd have a serious Ares presence on hand. Maybe Ares hired the first team, and our most recent interested party is just playing scavenger? You know, looking for Legs for reasons unrelated to our cargo. But, regardless of our speculation back here, it's your asses on the line up there if we're headed to the chem plant, so the final decision falls on you. I'll make the blimp cut wifi and follow you on autonomous autopilot. If I have it blink its signal on every 30 seconds or so to keep the VPN active and let me re-establish my subscription as needed, we should be able to stay in contact, while keeping it matrix-invisible. OpFor can't find it on a signal sweep if it's only doing burst transmissions like that. Besides, I need to follow you in the car, and I'd rather not juggle direct control of two vehicles at once. It's distracting. So, who's got the biggest antenna in that car? I need to know how far out to have it follow you from.>>
With that, Oswald turned the Rover back on and prepared to leave the Body Mall parking lot.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Professor tunrs to his running mates in the car. Still in text, <<What's your opinion, Thirty? Ferret?>>
Professor tunrs to his running mates in the car. Still in text, <<What's your opinion, Thirty? Ferret?>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Acme considered the options and shrugged. <<I'm not much for getting shot at if we don't have to. It's a nice van, we don't have to junk it, but ditching it in favor of something not white hot right now probably is a better idea right now.>>"
Acme considered the options and shrugged. <<I'm not much for getting shot at if we don't have to. It's a nice van, we don't have to junk it, but ditching it in favor of something not white hot right now probably is a better idea right now.>>"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
"Acme!" Professor exclaims. <<Sorry for cutting you out of the question, Acme. You must be an expert in covert ops. I forgot you were there. Yes, getting shot at is no fun, and as Jovan points out, trying to manipulate a confrontation to our advantage in terrain that is unknown to us may be a futile exercise.
Speaking of you Jovan, I haven't forgotten your request, just busy with the driving at the moment. When we get together wherever, I'll be happy to fill you in.>>
"Acme!" Professor exclaims. <<Sorry for cutting you out of the question, Acme. You must be an expert in covert ops. I forgot you were there. Yes, getting shot at is no fun, and as Jovan points out, trying to manipulate a confrontation to our advantage in terrain that is unknown to us may be a futile exercise.
Speaking of you Jovan, I haven't forgotten your request, just busy with the driving at the moment. When we get together wherever, I'll be happy to fill you in.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Ferret mutters under his breath in the van. <<@Yacht Club: It's not just a nice van, its my fragging home, so I ain't planning on junking it anytime soon. I will play bait if necessary, or go to ground. But I think Prof is right and we need to take the fight to them.>>"
Ferret mutters under his breath in the van. <<@Yacht Club: It's not just a nice van, its my fragging home, so I ain't planning on junking it anytime soon. I will play bait if necessary, or go to ground. But I think Prof is right and we need to take the fight to them.>>"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Thirty doesn't consider himself to be much of a planner, so he lets the others talk it out for a while. At last he chimes in over the VPN. <I agree with Jovan; walking into a hostile environment when we've got someone on our tail sounds too risky. I'd say we should go someplace where our magic isn't hampered by nasty mana and set up to ambush whomever is bugging us. I haven't got any suggestions for such a place; how about you guys?>
Thirty doesn't consider himself to be much of a planner, so he lets the others talk it out for a while. At last he chimes in over the VPN. <I agree with Jovan; walking into a hostile environment when we've got someone on our tail sounds too risky. I'd say we should go someplace where our magic isn't hampered by nasty mana and set up to ambush whomever is bugging us. I haven't got any suggestions for such a place; how about you guys?>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Acme smirks. <<No, I'm just good at being invisible.. Coyote's gifts and all. Anywho, while being used as bait might be a good way to peel off the tail so we can go after Rusty or the spider-man... You'd be on your own, Ferret because I'd think we'd need everyone over there to make sure things are going right. And we're split up enough.>>
Acme smirks. <<No, I'm just good at being invisible.. Coyote's gifts and all. Anywho, while being used as bait might be a good way to peel off the tail so we can go after Rusty or the spider-man... You'd be on your own, Ferret because I'd think we'd need everyone over there to make sure things are going right. And we're split up enough.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:41 PM, Glow City, Redmond
The air elemental takes another look inside the vehicle. he watches the men curiosly for a moment, One man has shadows throughout his body, the other just has them in his head and chest. Their vehicle is moving, and it is somewhat large.
The air elemental takes another look inside the vehicle. he watches the men curiosly for a moment, One man has shadows throughout his body, the other just has them in his head and chest. Their vehicle is moving, and it is somewhat large.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Professor tosses out a morsel for considersation. <<@team: Here's an idea. We don't know what the three trucks with the cargo look like. It's likely the other team doesn't, either. If we were to go to a place where it would seem logical the cargo could be hidden, such as a storage yard with a whole bunch of tractor trailers, then it would seem we have found out the hiding place of the stolen cargo. Remember we are being traced, possibly listened to, so watch what you say. Once there, Ferret could hack three of them and pull them out of the crowd, as if they were being readied for transfer. Then we wait for the other team to try a snatch before the 'recipients' arrive.>>
He speaks, "I think I am figuring something out here. Give me a moment more to cogitate."
Professor tosses out a morsel for considersation. <<@team: Here's an idea. We don't know what the three trucks with the cargo look like. It's likely the other team doesn't, either. If we were to go to a place where it would seem logical the cargo could be hidden, such as a storage yard with a whole bunch of tractor trailers, then it would seem we have found out the hiding place of the stolen cargo. Remember we are being traced, possibly listened to, so watch what you say. Once there, Ferret could hack three of them and pull them out of the crowd, as if they were being readied for transfer. Then we wait for the other team to try a snatch before the 'recipients' arrive.>>
He speaks, "I think I am figuring something out here. Give me a moment more to cogitate."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:45 PM, Oswald's Rover, near the body mall, Redmond
Idling in the parking lot and waiting for a response to his query about signal strength, was proving fruitless if not telling. This was not a group for complicated plans or subtle strategies. This was a group that wants to drive into decades' lawless criminal shitholes like they're going to the store to pick up milk and eggs.
<<@Yacht Club: Well, seeing as how the roads around here are almost completely empty, what say I just look for anyone tailing you and start shooting them to death? You can join in if you like. Though I would appreciate some astral recon before engaging the pursuers. And Ferret, any info you'd care to share on your attacker? Did you analyze the Agent? We've got its hard-coded login ID, but was there anything else you can say about it?>>
Speaking of recon, Oswald had neglected the blimp's massive Radar sensor bank. If he's dealing with other riggers, it would be foolish to assume that he was alone in the sky.
Idling in the parking lot and waiting for a response to his query about signal strength, was proving fruitless if not telling. This was not a group for complicated plans or subtle strategies. This was a group that wants to drive into decades' lawless criminal shitholes like they're going to the store to pick up milk and eggs.
<<@Yacht Club: Well, seeing as how the roads around here are almost completely empty, what say I just look for anyone tailing you and start shooting them to death? You can join in if you like. Though I would appreciate some astral recon before engaging the pursuers. And Ferret, any info you'd care to share on your attacker? Did you analyze the Agent? We've got its hard-coded login ID, but was there anything else you can say about it?>>
Speaking of recon, Oswald had neglected the blimp's massive Radar sensor bank. If he's dealing with other riggers, it would be foolish to assume that he was alone in the sky.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:46 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
<<@Yacht Club: I like the storage yard idea. Lemme think for a minute on that. Would also give Oswald a chance to spot our tail. Hey Oz, I don't have any dedicated comms gear in the van and down here I'm lucky to get more than about 300m range on my commlink. I doubt any of others have anything better on them.>>
He looks around the van at the other team members for confirmation.
<<@Yacht Club: As to the agent, I only managed to get a trace running before I crashed it. It was acting pretty single minded so that's how I started thinking it was just a smart frame running an attack prog rather than a real person. Only other thing I can tell you is that the icon was in the shape of a snake. Wasn't one of Big Daddy's crew called Viper or something like that?>>
He turns back to Acme, "Hey kid, pass me a link from that bag on my desk. I maybe got an idea on how to lose these fraggers."
<<@Yacht Club: I like the storage yard idea. Lemme think for a minute on that. Would also give Oswald a chance to spot our tail. Hey Oz, I don't have any dedicated comms gear in the van and down here I'm lucky to get more than about 300m range on my commlink. I doubt any of others have anything better on them.>>
He looks around the van at the other team members for confirmation.
<<@Yacht Club: As to the agent, I only managed to get a trace running before I crashed it. It was acting pretty single minded so that's how I started thinking it was just a smart frame running an attack prog rather than a real person. Only other thing I can tell you is that the icon was in the shape of a snake. Wasn't one of Big Daddy's crew called Viper or something like that?>>
He turns back to Acme, "Hey kid, pass me a link from that bag on my desk. I maybe got an idea on how to lose these fraggers."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:46 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Seeing as he has turned the van back along the route they came in, Professor searches his memory for a truckyard along the route.
His mind draws a complete blank. He barely remembers the route itself. This is not what he is used to.
Seeing as he has turned the van back along the route they came in, Professor searches his memory for a truckyard along the route.
His mind draws a complete blank. He barely remembers the route itself. This is not what he is used to.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Thirty quips, "If you're cogitated, we can stop and get you a laxative."
Grinning, he waits a small eternity for a laugh, then smirks and mutters under his breath, "Yep, stick to shadowrunning."
QUOTE (pbangarth @ Nov 20 2010, 09:55 AM) 
[Professor] speaks, "I think I am figuring something out here. Give me a moment more to cogitate."
Thirty quips, "If you're cogitated, we can stop and get you a laxative."
Grinning, he waits a small eternity for a laugh, then smirks and mutters under his breath, "Yep, stick to shadowrunning."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:40 PM, Ferret's van, Glow City, Redmond
Acme snorts and gives Thirty at least a little chuckle, at least it was an attempt to break the tension. Turning to Ferret, he nods and passes him the bag he asked for. "Here ya go, hope it's useful."
Acme snorts and gives Thirty at least a little chuckle, at least it was an attempt to break the tension. Turning to Ferret, he nods and passes him the bag he asked for. "Here ya go, hope it's useful."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:47 PM, Oswald's Rover, near the body mall, Redmond
<<@Yacht Club: 300m?! Remind me to buy you a satlink when Christmas rolls around... Guess that'll nix all communications once you hit the dead zone. 300m is too close to get without engaging your tail. The Viper guy, Viper12, he's not part of Big's crew. He's a fella who got all steamed when Big disappeared. Probably a smuggler waiting for something Big was supposed to shoot down the pipe but didn't, causing him to lose face. What kind of tools did he try to hit you with? I assumed black, but I don't know. That guy on the roof could have just been chipped out of his brain as easy as he could have been dead. The assumption that he was dead was based on the fact that your attacker was related to the shoot-up in Twisters. But if that were the case, would he be falling back to feints at this point? You boys might as well question your guests about that kind of stuff now. Rusty might know what Viper's deal is, while the others could give you descriptions of the 4 guys who trashed the place the other night. If he's listening in, and related to the guys who shot the place up, then it won't be any info he wouldn't have or wouldn't assume you already had. If he's not related to that crew, maybe we can work out some sort of deal. Speaking of which, I probably shouldn't start shooting until we figure out whether or not our goals are antagonistic...>>
Figuring Ferret had enough of a headstart, Oswald ordered his blimp to hang back a bit and watch for the Rover's southern approach, which he then began.
<<@Yacht Club: 300m?! Remind me to buy you a satlink when Christmas rolls around... Guess that'll nix all communications once you hit the dead zone. 300m is too close to get without engaging your tail. The Viper guy, Viper12, he's not part of Big's crew. He's a fella who got all steamed when Big disappeared. Probably a smuggler waiting for something Big was supposed to shoot down the pipe but didn't, causing him to lose face. What kind of tools did he try to hit you with? I assumed black, but I don't know. That guy on the roof could have just been chipped out of his brain as easy as he could have been dead. The assumption that he was dead was based on the fact that your attacker was related to the shoot-up in Twisters. But if that were the case, would he be falling back to feints at this point? You boys might as well question your guests about that kind of stuff now. Rusty might know what Viper's deal is, while the others could give you descriptions of the 4 guys who trashed the place the other night. If he's listening in, and related to the guys who shot the place up, then it won't be any info he wouldn't have or wouldn't assume you already had. If he's not related to that crew, maybe we can work out some sort of deal. Speaking of which, I probably shouldn't start shooting until we figure out whether or not our goals are antagonistic...>>
Figuring Ferret had enough of a headstart, Oswald ordered his blimp to hang back a bit and watch for the Rover's southern approach, which he then began.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:55 PM, Redmond
As Ferret's van made some distance from Twisters, the toxic feeling began to subside. Magic was returning to its former glory. Traffic was light and the team watched for their pursuers. They had only gotten about half a mile out of town before Oswald spotted a black S.U.V. picking up their trail. He also picked up a new bird appearing on the radar. It looks to have just hit the skies and broke east.
Strawberry scowled slightly at Thiry's joke,"Are you guys even professionals? Those other guys seemed to take their shit way more seriously."
As Ferret's van made some distance from Twisters, the toxic feeling began to subside. Magic was returning to its former glory. Traffic was light and the team watched for their pursuers. They had only gotten about half a mile out of town before Oswald spotted a black S.U.V. picking up their trail. He also picked up a new bird appearing on the radar. It looks to have just hit the skies and broke east.
Strawberry scowled slightly at Thiry's joke,"Are you guys even professionals? Those other guys seemed to take their shit way more seriously."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:55 PM, Redmond
"Appearances can be deceiving, Strawberry." Professor retorts. "It remains to be seen whether the team that started before us crosses the finish line first. And leaving a wake of destruction is just bush-league." he hopes the listeners catch that one. And didn't see Oswald's 'orbital strike' earlier.
The returning touch of Gaia feels delicious.
<<Any company, Oswald?>>
"Appearances can be deceiving, Strawberry." Professor retorts. "It remains to be seen whether the team that started before us crosses the finish line first. And leaving a wake of destruction is just bush-league." he hopes the listeners catch that one. And didn't see Oswald's 'orbital strike' earlier.
The returning touch of Gaia feels delicious.
<<Any company, Oswald?>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:55 PM, Redmond
As the background count fades, Thirty's world becomes sharper, and his usual perception of the flow of time and space returns. It seems as if a gnawing fear in the back of his mind has receded, and he once again exudes confidence and power with his body language and facial expression. Casting off his crude Barrens disguise, he cinches his oily hair back into his customary ponytail and begins peering out the windows, searching for a good spot to stop and face the team's pursuers.
To Strawberry, he says, "Can you tell us anything about those other guys? Metatypes? Did they wear dogtags or have the same tatoos? It would be good to know who we're up against."
As the background count fades, Thirty's world becomes sharper, and his usual perception of the flow of time and space returns. It seems as if a gnawing fear in the back of his mind has receded, and he once again exudes confidence and power with his body language and facial expression. Casting off his crude Barrens disguise, he cinches his oily hair back into his customary ponytail and begins peering out the windows, searching for a good spot to stop and face the team's pursuers.
To Strawberry, he says, "Can you tell us anything about those other guys? Metatypes? Did they wear dogtags or have the same tatoos? It would be good to know who we're up against."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:56 PM, Redmond
Strawberry ran a few fingers through her black hair and looked off into the past, running the events back in her mind. Pulling back the hair revealed some bruising around the eye. It was hard to spot the dark purple against the backdrop of deep red. "Two orks came in first, in all black gear. Thick armored vests. They had ball caps and goggles. One stayed by the door and the other came straight to the bar. He was asking for Swagger J. I told 'em he was gone, and he sad somethin about me and him 'taking another look'. You know, thinking about it, he had a tattoo on his forearm. A 'v' with the number 7 in it. Well this guy K-rail got in his face and told him he should piss off and all hell broke loose. The guy grabbed K by the neck and he shook like he was hooked up to a car battery. K-rail dropped to the floor and his boys, he's a Stiletto, jumped up with a quickness. I ducked behind the bar, and when the fighting was over, the Stiletto's were dead or gone, Ted-E was dead, Some human in the same type gear had appeared from who knows where. He socked me in the face as soon as I poked my head up. then it was lights out." She rubbed her temple as she relived the pain in her mind,"When I came two there were two humans. The one that socked me and another scrawny one, who walked around the club looking for who knows what. They questioned me for like, an eternity and tore the club to pieces. I was too scared to really look at them by then. That's all I remember."
Rusty spoke quietly, almost to himself,"I remember a while ago, some guys approached BD about some military grade communications or programs, or something like that. They called themselves the Vipers, no, the 12 Vipers. Big told 'em they didn't have the cred to run after that kind of stuff. Told him he'd keep them in mind if he happened across it, but that was over month ago. They paid for drinks and thanked us. It didn't seem like any hard feelings"
Strawberry ran a few fingers through her black hair and looked off into the past, running the events back in her mind. Pulling back the hair revealed some bruising around the eye. It was hard to spot the dark purple against the backdrop of deep red. "Two orks came in first, in all black gear. Thick armored vests. They had ball caps and goggles. One stayed by the door and the other came straight to the bar. He was asking for Swagger J. I told 'em he was gone, and he sad somethin about me and him 'taking another look'. You know, thinking about it, he had a tattoo on his forearm. A 'v' with the number 7 in it. Well this guy K-rail got in his face and told him he should piss off and all hell broke loose. The guy grabbed K by the neck and he shook like he was hooked up to a car battery. K-rail dropped to the floor and his boys, he's a Stiletto, jumped up with a quickness. I ducked behind the bar, and when the fighting was over, the Stiletto's were dead or gone, Ted-E was dead, Some human in the same type gear had appeared from who knows where. He socked me in the face as soon as I poked my head up. then it was lights out." She rubbed her temple as she relived the pain in her mind,"When I came two there were two humans. The one that socked me and another scrawny one, who walked around the club looking for who knows what. They questioned me for like, an eternity and tore the club to pieces. I was too scared to really look at them by then. That's all I remember."
Rusty spoke quietly, almost to himself,"I remember a while ago, some guys approached BD about some military grade communications or programs, or something like that. They called themselves the Vipers, no, the 12 Vipers. Big told 'em they didn't have the cred to run after that kind of stuff. Told him he'd keep them in mind if he happened across it, but that was over month ago. They paid for drinks and thanked us. It didn't seem like any hard feelings"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:56 PM, Redmond
Acme let out a long breath as the background count faded, shaking his head a little bit as if to get rid of some water or scum from his hair. But he was paying attention to the stories. "What did the ones who beat you up looking for?" he asked. "Were they looking for Big Daddy as well?"
Acme let out a long breath as the background count faded, shaking his head a little bit as if to get rid of some water or scum from his hair. But he was paying attention to the stories. "What did the ones who beat you up looking for?" he asked. "Were they looking for Big Daddy as well?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:56 PM, Oswald's Rover, near the body mall, Redmond
<<@Yacht Club: Looks like your tail is another Rover, this one black. Something just lit up into the sky. Don't think it's fast enough to be a missile. I'll run the radar picture through my vehicle recognition soft and get back to you. Jovan is non-responsive. I think he might have decided to take an astral jaunt just before I left the parking lot, and now he's having trouble finding his body again. BTW, confirmation on this Viper thing? Should I go hot on the bastards?>>
<<@Yacht Club: Looks like your tail is another Rover, this one black. Something just lit up into the sky. Don't think it's fast enough to be a missile. I'll run the radar picture through my vehicle recognition soft and get back to you. Jovan is non-responsive. I think he might have decided to take an astral jaunt just before I left the parking lot, and now he's having trouble finding his body again. BTW, confirmation on this Viper thing? Should I go hot on the bastards?>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:55 PM, Redmond
As the fog of background count faded from Professor's mind, it was as if circuits were thrown back on, and conduits of magic reconnected. He felt himself charging, thinking, deciding. Oswald's information added the critical details to the formula.
<<@Team: Alright. We've been reacting to the moves of others long enough. It's time we took charge of the situation. Here's the plan. We change it only if someone really takes exception.
Acme, send a search to corral Jovan and bring him into contact with us. A watcher should do. Your spirit can follow the astral trail from his body to his astral projection. You will be our magic firepower on the ground. Jovan, you and your astral cavalry, maybe with an addition from Acme if he can afford it, will deal with the opposing air vehicle. Accident power, fire spirit appears inside the vehicle, whatever. Once that is dealt with, send what help you can afford to the ground forces, but top priority is keeping Oswald and his blimp safe from magical counterattack.
Ferret, right now find us any place nearby that will have trucks we can use as surrogates for the stolen vehicles. Google it if you have to, but get us somewhere suitable right away. I'll drive us there and once there you, Ferret will hack three vehicles and pull them out together as if they are being readied for delivery. Our opposition will want to get the vehicles before any reinforcements come to receive the cargo. Oswald will follow our ground vehicle and cover us, using force only if we are in imminent danger. We don't want the ground opposition to be warned off. Once we are in position in the truck yard, Thirty will assume overall command of tactics to neutralize our opposition. On the ground will be Thirty, Acme, Ferret and myself. Astral will be anything Acme and Jovan can put there. Oswald will be our air strike capability. We should coordinate our actions to bring firepower from all six of us to bear on the ground pursuit as they approach our position in the truck yard. Any questions?>>
<<@Acme: Anything you can do to me to speed me up or toughen me? I can sustain a spell and overcome the mental strain of that effort, and I will need all the help I can get.>>
As the fog of background count faded from Professor's mind, it was as if circuits were thrown back on, and conduits of magic reconnected. He felt himself charging, thinking, deciding. Oswald's information added the critical details to the formula.
<<@Team: Alright. We've been reacting to the moves of others long enough. It's time we took charge of the situation. Here's the plan. We change it only if someone really takes exception.
Acme, send a search to corral Jovan and bring him into contact with us. A watcher should do. Your spirit can follow the astral trail from his body to his astral projection. You will be our magic firepower on the ground. Jovan, you and your astral cavalry, maybe with an addition from Acme if he can afford it, will deal with the opposing air vehicle. Accident power, fire spirit appears inside the vehicle, whatever. Once that is dealt with, send what help you can afford to the ground forces, but top priority is keeping Oswald and his blimp safe from magical counterattack.
Ferret, right now find us any place nearby that will have trucks we can use as surrogates for the stolen vehicles. Google it if you have to, but get us somewhere suitable right away. I'll drive us there and once there you, Ferret will hack three vehicles and pull them out together as if they are being readied for delivery. Our opposition will want to get the vehicles before any reinforcements come to receive the cargo. Oswald will follow our ground vehicle and cover us, using force only if we are in imminent danger. We don't want the ground opposition to be warned off. Once we are in position in the truck yard, Thirty will assume overall command of tactics to neutralize our opposition. On the ground will be Thirty, Acme, Ferret and myself. Astral will be anything Acme and Jovan can put there. Oswald will be our air strike capability. We should coordinate our actions to bring firepower from all six of us to bear on the ground pursuit as they approach our position in the truck yard. Any questions?>>
<<@Acme: Anything you can do to me to speed me up or toughen me? I can sustain a spell and overcome the mental strain of that effort, and I will need all the help I can get.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:55 PM, Redmond
As the Professor barks orders, Ferret's head slumps sideways onto Thirty's arm. <<@Yacht Club: On it.>>
First things first, though. thinks the chromed ferret. He sinks his teeth into the video stream from the bug on his van, drinking up a few megapulses of street scene. He then vomits the data into one of the cheap links sitting in his virtual lap and adds a loop of a particularly nasty section of the troll porn that Oswald had captured from Jack's feed. He then matches the comm's ID to that of the bug and sets it to standby.
Now, the hard part. He launches his digital self at the bug's tiny node, emitting a high pitched 'squeeee' of digital commands in an attempt to overload it's input buffer and spoof it into transmitting the fake data from the commlink in his lap. Hopefully, without raising an alarm to warn their pursuers.
As the Professor barks orders, Ferret's head slumps sideways onto Thirty's arm. <<@Yacht Club: On it.>>
First things first, though. thinks the chromed ferret. He sinks his teeth into the video stream from the bug on his van, drinking up a few megapulses of street scene. He then vomits the data into one of the cheap links sitting in his virtual lap and adds a loop of a particularly nasty section of the troll porn that Oswald had captured from Jack's feed. He then matches the comm's ID to that of the bug and sets it to standby.
Now, the hard part. He launches his digital self at the bug's tiny node, emitting a high pitched 'squeeee' of digital commands in an attempt to overload it's input buffer and spoof it into transmitting the fake data from the commlink in his lap. Hopefully, without raising an alarm to warn their pursuers.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:56 PM, Oswald's Rover, near the body mall, Redmond
Jovan opened his eyes, breaking out of the communication with his elemental and the contemplative trance he had been in for a while and returning to the job at hand. Checking on what had been discussed, Jovan narrowed his eyes venomously.
<<@Yacht Club: So Viper12 must be the leader of this 12 Vipers group. I will look into that soon, but be wary of interceptions by other members of this group or facing reinforcements to the pursuit. Even if we don't assume that there are 12 of them, there are still several of them currently unaccounted for. Your pursuers on the ground consist of only two men, both with a fair amount of cyberware. One of them has cyberware concentrated in his torso and head; I assume he is another hacker, but I will leave further identification of that to the more cybermedically-minded of us. The other's augmentations are more diversified. Shall I eliminate the aerial target presently?
Oh, and I already established something similar to this, but it seems to require reiteration. There will be no searching for my astral projection or my aura at any time. I will not repeat myself.>>
Do you see a shadow moving quickly in the sky? Get to that shadow, tell me what it looks like and what or who is inside, and disable it on my forthcoming order.
Jovan opened his eyes, breaking out of the communication with his elemental and the contemplative trance he had been in for a while and returning to the job at hand. Checking on what had been discussed, Jovan narrowed his eyes venomously.
<<@Yacht Club: So Viper12 must be the leader of this 12 Vipers group. I will look into that soon, but be wary of interceptions by other members of this group or facing reinforcements to the pursuit. Even if we don't assume that there are 12 of them, there are still several of them currently unaccounted for. Your pursuers on the ground consist of only two men, both with a fair amount of cyberware. One of them has cyberware concentrated in his torso and head; I assume he is another hacker, but I will leave further identification of that to the more cybermedically-minded of us. The other's augmentations are more diversified. Shall I eliminate the aerial target presently?
Oh, and I already established something similar to this, but it seems to require reiteration. There will be no searching for my astral projection or my aura at any time. I will not repeat myself.>>
Do you see a shadow moving quickly in the sky? Get to that shadow, tell me what it looks like and what or who is inside, and disable it on my forthcoming order.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:55 PM, Redmond
<<@Team: Oh good. Smiley is back among us! No problem... no search for you. Yes, the flying vehicle presents an imminent danger to our airforce and challenge to our air superiority. Eliminate that challenge as soon as possible.
The possibility of there being more of them than we see at the moment is why I don't think we should scare off the following vehicle immediately with an airstrike. Let's see how much of their hand they are willing to reveal. If we take out the aircraft but leave the groundcraft, they may think we haven't noticed that vehicle.
I see an industrial area off to the south. I'll head towards that in case Ferret finds something suitable there.>> Professor looks for an appropriate turnoff.
<<@Team: Oh good. Smiley is back among us! No problem... no search for you. Yes, the flying vehicle presents an imminent danger to our airforce and challenge to our air superiority. Eliminate that challenge as soon as possible.
The possibility of there being more of them than we see at the moment is why I don't think we should scare off the following vehicle immediately with an airstrike. Let's see how much of their hand they are willing to reveal. If we take out the aircraft but leave the groundcraft, they may think we haven't noticed that vehicle.
I see an industrial area off to the south. I'll head towards that in case Ferret finds something suitable there.>> Professor looks for an appropriate turnoff.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:57 PM, Oswald's Rover, near the body mall, Redmond
"Ah! Good to see you're back. I was getting a little worried that maybe you'd gone spirit walking right before I said I was leaving. That'd a been a mess. Steel yourself by the way, we're about to pass by nuke town. Ought to be enough hurt up there to green your gills for sure. By the way, is the hacker driving or riding shotgun? And should I assume that he's not in a cocoon like this one?"
<<@Yacht Club: Gun on Demand, ready for action. But, either they spotted me flitting about on their radar, or they didn't like your topic of conversation, because that bird seems like a response to something. We might not get the chance to lead them by the neck much longer. Meantime, it'd probably be a good idea for everyone to clear their recent GPS history on comms and vehicles. Don't want to lead them back to the safehouse if someone gets compromised or caught. I can walk you though the procedure if you're not savvy.>>
"Right, well, conflict seems inevitable at this point, so I'm going to hit some stims. If I start acting like an even bigger asshole than usual, please keep in mind it's for your own benefit as well as mine. My age, I need all the help I can get in a gunfight." With that, Oswald triggered his autoinjector to flood his aging veins with Cram. "God damn! I can feel that tingle even through simsense! Oh, shit. How rude of me. You want some too?"
<<@Yacht Club: It's a chopper! HA! Elevation: 60 meters. Passenger size: unknown, likely 4-6. Coloration: always bet on black. Since collateral is likely to be a problem, I'd say down the sucker in poison town. I'll cack the thing if you like. Plenty of ammo here.>>
"Ah! Good to see you're back. I was getting a little worried that maybe you'd gone spirit walking right before I said I was leaving. That'd a been a mess. Steel yourself by the way, we're about to pass by nuke town. Ought to be enough hurt up there to green your gills for sure. By the way, is the hacker driving or riding shotgun? And should I assume that he's not in a cocoon like this one?"
<<@Yacht Club: Gun on Demand, ready for action. But, either they spotted me flitting about on their radar, or they didn't like your topic of conversation, because that bird seems like a response to something. We might not get the chance to lead them by the neck much longer. Meantime, it'd probably be a good idea for everyone to clear their recent GPS history on comms and vehicles. Don't want to lead them back to the safehouse if someone gets compromised or caught. I can walk you though the procedure if you're not savvy.>>
"Right, well, conflict seems inevitable at this point, so I'm going to hit some stims. If I start acting like an even bigger asshole than usual, please keep in mind it's for your own benefit as well as mine. My age, I need all the help I can get in a gunfight." With that, Oswald triggered his autoinjector to flood his aging veins with Cram. "God damn! I can feel that tingle even through simsense! Oh, shit. How rude of me. You want some too?"
<<@Yacht Club: It's a chopper! HA! Elevation: 60 meters. Passenger size: unknown, likely 4-6. Coloration: always bet on black. Since collateral is likely to be a problem, I'd say down the sucker in poison town. I'll cack the thing if you like. Plenty of ammo here.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:55 PM, Redmond
The GPS in Ferret's van gives a soft ping as it activates. An icon with the word 'Machitos' appears on the windscreen and a soft female voice issues from the speakers. "After 500m, take the next left."
The GPS in Ferret's van gives a soft ping as it activates. An icon with the word 'Machitos' appears on the windscreen and a soft female voice issues from the speakers. "After 500m, take the next left."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:55 PM, Redmond
"Nice touch, that voice, Ferret. I bet you drive her a lot." Professor looks for the turn and negotiates it.
"Nice touch, that voice, Ferret. I bet you drive her a lot." Professor looks for the turn and negotiates it.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:55 PM, Redmond
Acme chuckles about the comment about the GPS, and nods with the suggestions that Professor brings up. Jovan made his job a bit easier with his won texts, so all he had to do was focus on adding his firepower and spirits. The fact that Jovan put his foot down about not wanting to be searched for astrally... That was interesting. He might have to do a little digging on his own in the future; there were several reasons to want to be locked away and not seen astrally, and he was willing to give the benefit of the doubt for now.
<<@ Prof- Yeah I should be able to get things going as soon as we establish where we're throwing down our defense. I need to see how long we've got before the attack before I start whistling up spirits though; I don't want to have to ask them for help just to watch them leave before we need them. As far as helping you out? Well keep in mind I do things a bit differently, and I don't know what I can do with this short of notice, but if you've got any ideas I'm listening.>>
Acme chuckles about the comment about the GPS, and nods with the suggestions that Professor brings up. Jovan made his job a bit easier with his won texts, so all he had to do was focus on adding his firepower and spirits. The fact that Jovan put his foot down about not wanting to be searched for astrally... That was interesting. He might have to do a little digging on his own in the future; there were several reasons to want to be locked away and not seen astrally, and he was willing to give the benefit of the doubt for now.
<<@ Prof- Yeah I should be able to get things going as soon as we establish where we're throwing down our defense. I need to see how long we've got before the attack before I start whistling up spirits though; I don't want to have to ask them for help just to watch them leave before we need them. As far as helping you out? Well keep in mind I do things a bit differently, and I don't know what I can do with this short of notice, but if you've got any ideas I'm listening.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:55 PM, Oswald's Rover, Redmond
"No, thank you," Jovan replied coolly as he continued to communicate with his elemental. Nevermind about what it looks like now. Bring it down. Accident it down for all I care, just take it down immediately. If it is close enough for you to look inside and see how many metahumans are in it, do so. In the meantime, tell me about what you saw of the positioning of the two men in the ground vehicle. Relative to their direction of motion, are they alongside one another, or is one behind the other? Does the one with the head and chest shadows appear to be driving the vehicle, or the other one? He would be sitting in the front of the vehicle on the left side if he is driving it manually.
"No, thank you," Jovan replied coolly as he continued to communicate with his elemental. Nevermind about what it looks like now. Bring it down. Accident it down for all I care, just take it down immediately. If it is close enough for you to look inside and see how many metahumans are in it, do so. In the meantime, tell me about what you saw of the positioning of the two men in the ground vehicle. Relative to their direction of motion, are they alongside one another, or is one behind the other? Does the one with the head and chest shadows appear to be driving the vehicle, or the other one? He would be sitting in the front of the vehicle on the left side if he is driving it manually.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:56 PM, Redmond
A chopper has taken flight. Swooping low over Redmond, picking up speed. Not enough, however, to outrun the spirit materializing above it. The ghostly human visage flicks silently through the clouds, stalking its prey. On simple push of magic, and the metal bird goes dark inside. A blown fuse in the instrument panel. The system reboots as a man inside tries to control the falling hunk of steel that spirals out of control. The vessel skims across a rooftop sending sparks flying everywhere before it bounces aloft for another moment and drops into a parking lot.
The flying machine is down. As to the ground travellers, the one with less shadows is in the driving position. His associate, behind him to his right.
Ferret seems to have the camera running his own home movie as the team approach the "Machitos" Warehouse. The place is closed down for the night. One lone car in the parking lot. The place is obviosly not high on the security list for Aztechnology. Its a small plant. The back lot is gated off with about six trucks parked inside. Strawberry nodded her head in response to Acme, not wanting to think about it anymore. Rusty looked around for company,"You fella's got a plan?"
A chopper has taken flight. Swooping low over Redmond, picking up speed. Not enough, however, to outrun the spirit materializing above it. The ghostly human visage flicks silently through the clouds, stalking its prey. On simple push of magic, and the metal bird goes dark inside. A blown fuse in the instrument panel. The system reboots as a man inside tries to control the falling hunk of steel that spirals out of control. The vessel skims across a rooftop sending sparks flying everywhere before it bounces aloft for another moment and drops into a parking lot.
The flying machine is down. As to the ground travellers, the one with less shadows is in the driving position. His associate, behind him to his right.
Ferret seems to have the camera running his own home movie as the team approach the "Machitos" Warehouse. The place is closed down for the night. One lone car in the parking lot. The place is obviosly not high on the security list for Aztechnology. Its a small plant. The back lot is gated off with about six trucks parked inside. Strawberry nodded her head in response to Acme, not wanting to think about it anymore. Rusty looked around for company,"You fella's got a plan?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:56 PM, Redmond
Professor taps one ear with a finger, and then points downwards to the vehicle. Hoping the message got through to Rusty, he says, "Found the trucks. Heading there now."
Professor taps one ear with a finger, and then points downwards to the vehicle. Hoping the message got through to Rusty, he says, "Found the trucks. Heading there now."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:56 PM, Redmond
Trying to throw off the pursuers that he knows are listening in, Thirty says, "When we get there, we'll split up, two to a truck. We won't need this van anymore, so we can just ditch it there." As he says this, he holds a finger up to his lips and shakes his head to let the others know this is not the actual plan.
Next, Thirty tries to pantomime his actual plan to the group. He points to Rusty, Crew, Strawberry and Ferret, and then pushes his hands palms-down towards the floor of the van twice while mouthing the words, "Stay here." Then he points to Acme, Professor and himself, holds up his pistol and pats it with his free hand, smiling grimly.
Trying to throw off the pursuers that he knows are listening in, Thirty says, "When we get there, we'll split up, two to a truck. We won't need this van anymore, so we can just ditch it there." As he says this, he holds a finger up to his lips and shakes his head to let the others know this is not the actual plan.
Next, Thirty tries to pantomime his actual plan to the group. He points to Rusty, Crew, Strawberry and Ferret, and then pushes his hands palms-down towards the floor of the van twice while mouthing the words, "Stay here." Then he points to Acme, Professor and himself, holds up his pistol and pats it with his free hand, smiling grimly.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:57 PM, Redmond
Professor holds a thumbs up sign, showing more confidence than he feels. I'm part of the first line combat team am I? Yeah, right.
<<@Acme: My skills are not focused on combat, so the magic you might have that you could cast on me, in the order I think it might help, is: speed me up; make me invisible; armor me. I've looked at your aura (sorry) and see that you can cast a spell at any level that doesn't cause your nose to bleed and I can maintain it.>>
Professor holds a thumbs up sign, showing more confidence than he feels. I'm part of the first line combat team am I? Yeah, right.
<<@Acme: My skills are not focused on combat, so the magic you might have that you could cast on me, in the order I think it might help, is: speed me up; make me invisible; armor me. I've looked at your aura (sorry) and see that you can cast a spell at any level that doesn't cause your nose to bleed and I can maintain it.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:57 PM, Redmond
Acme shrugged about the suggestions of strategy. It seemed to work, and he would need to get used to the team anyway before he had a suggestion of who should go where.
[/i][/color]<<@Prof- That doesn't sound too bad. Can't speed you up, but I should handle the other two pretty well. Just lemme know when and give me a bit of a berth, in case we need me to not pass out. >>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:57 PM, Redmond
<<@team: Once the vehicle is parked, Acme, and it won't look funny to any outside observer that a driverless vehicle is going by, please go ahead and make me invisible. What ever level of mojo makes you comfortable. I will sutain it myself after that. Without making any audible reference to it, you might want to warn our guests so they don't say something in surprise and warn our listeners. Thirty, once we're there, go ahead and figure out where to place an invisible asset with a heavy pistol.>>
Professor keeps his eyes open for the truckyard.
<<@team: Once the vehicle is parked, Acme, and it won't look funny to any outside observer that a driverless vehicle is going by, please go ahead and make me invisible. What ever level of mojo makes you comfortable. I will sutain it myself after that. Without making any audible reference to it, you might want to warn our guests so they don't say something in surprise and warn our listeners. Thirty, once we're there, go ahead and figure out where to place an invisible asset with a heavy pistol.>>
Professor keeps his eyes open for the truckyard.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:57 PM, Redmond
Ferret's van continues to issue commands in it's cool female voice as it guides the Professor to the truckyard and finds a quiet spot to park. Ferret twitches and giggles as the bug starts broadcasting troll porn to the hopefully unsuspecting decker.
Ferret's eyes open in time to catch Acme's pantomime. He almost blurts something out but catches himself in time.
"I'll miss this old van." he says as the van pulls to a halt and he quietly climbs into the back alongside Strawberry and the green-faced ganger. He takes the seat that Acme vacates and then slips back into the matrix as he turns his attention on the Machitos node.
Ferret's van continues to issue commands in it's cool female voice as it guides the Professor to the truckyard and finds a quiet spot to park. Ferret twitches and giggles as the bug starts broadcasting troll porn to the hopefully unsuspecting decker.
Ferret's eyes open in time to catch Acme's pantomime. He almost blurts something out but catches himself in time.
"I'll miss this old van." he says as the van pulls to a halt and he quietly climbs into the back alongside Strawberry and the green-faced ganger. He takes the seat that Acme vacates and then slips back into the matrix as he turns his attention on the Machitos node.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:57 PM, Oswald's Rover, Redmond
<<Woah! Just.. wow! Chopper just crashed and burned! Well... I'm not sure it burned, but it just tried to autorotate into a parking lot at near freefall speed, so I'd guess it's out action. I'd call that a trap sprung. No way these guys are going to move on you alone. What say I just disable their vehicle and we run them down like scared rabbits. Could probably keep one alive for info purposes. Respond quickly. We're looking at a tight window here.>>
Oswald maneuvered closer to the target's SUV, attempting to lock on the the vehicle's signature and the driver's comms signal.
<<Woah! Just.. wow! Chopper just crashed and burned! Well... I'm not sure it burned, but it just tried to autorotate into a parking lot at near freefall speed, so I'd guess it's out action. I'd call that a trap sprung. No way these guys are going to move on you alone. What say I just disable their vehicle and we run them down like scared rabbits. Could probably keep one alive for info purposes. Respond quickly. We're looking at a tight window here.>>
Oswald maneuvered closer to the target's SUV, attempting to lock on the the vehicle's signature and the driver's comms signal.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:57 PM, Redmond
Professor responds to Oswald. <<@team: Our banter for their benefit suggests we are setting up a transfer of the cargo. They may not feel at liberty to abandon this attempt. How about we nuke 'em if they appear to be breaking off?>>
Professor responds to Oswald. <<@team: Our banter for their benefit suggests we are setting up a transfer of the cargo. They may not feel at liberty to abandon this attempt. How about we nuke 'em if they appear to be breaking off?>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:57 PM, Oswald's Rover, Redmond
Thirty composes a message as quickly as his thoughts can coalesce. <Was hoping to use the trucks as cover, plus it would be nice if our ride didn't get shot up (again). Light them up once they get into the lot with us.>
Then he crouches next to the van's side door, gun in one hand, the other clutching a handhold for stability, ready to jump out as soon as they are in position.
Thirty composes a message as quickly as his thoughts can coalesce. <Was hoping to use the trucks as cover, plus it would be nice if our ride didn't get shot up (again). Light them up once they get into the lot with us.>
Then he crouches next to the van's side door, gun in one hand, the other clutching a handhold for stability, ready to jump out as soon as they are in position.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:58 PM, Oswald's Rover, Redmond
Professor turns off the engine. <<@Team: OK, Acme. Do your thing. I'm ready.>>
Professor turns off the engine. <<@Team: OK, Acme. Do your thing. I'm ready.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:58 PM, Oswald's Rover, Redmond
Acme nods eagerly, then tries to keep his prayers and rituals to humming, trying not to give the listeners a clue as to what's going on. He passes his hand over Professor several times, hoping that the lack of sage on hand won't screw the spell up too much.
Acme nods eagerly, then tries to keep his prayers and rituals to humming, trying not to give the listeners a clue as to what's going on. He passes his hand over Professor several times, hoping that the lack of sage on hand won't screw the spell up too much.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:58 PM, Oswald's Rover, Redmond
For an instant the interface between Professor's eyes and the world is scrambled, and all that he sees blurs, shifting colours and shapes. As the spell takes hold of him, his vision returns. Ain't magic wonderful. He draws the mana onto himself, wrapping it around him like a cloak. With an act of will, he severs it's bond to Acme, and pins it to himself. Mine, now.
"I believe we have some goods to deliver." a disembodied voice lilts cheerily. "Shall we prepare for our customers?"
For an instant the interface between Professor's eyes and the world is scrambled, and all that he sees blurs, shifting colours and shapes. As the spell takes hold of him, his vision returns. Ain't magic wonderful. He draws the mana onto himself, wrapping it around him like a cloak. With an act of will, he severs it's bond to Acme, and pins it to himself. Mine, now.
"I believe we have some goods to deliver." a disembodied voice lilts cheerily. "Shall we prepare for our customers?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:59 PM, Oswald's Rover, Redmond
The matt black SUV slows and cuts onto a side street as the blimp moves in on it, dodging the sensor lock. The radio traffic reveals nothing between the car and driver, But Oz picks up some chatter from the downed chopper. It's encrypted, but one can only assume it's a distress call. The team's tail seems to be breaking off pursuit.
The matt black SUV slows and cuts onto a side street as the blimp moves in on it, dodging the sensor lock. The radio traffic reveals nothing between the car and driver, But Oz picks up some chatter from the downed chopper. It's encrypted, but one can only assume it's a distress call. The team's tail seems to be breaking off pursuit.
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