[Overdrive, Thursday August 22nd, 2075, 8:25PM, SMHF]
Titus smiled inwardly. Too perfect. If they've got the alarms rigged not to go off, no reason we shouldn't use that against them. Better try to get a line on their inside guy, though.
@All <<Don't think we'll need the help out here - I can keep the pinned down pretty effectively out here so we can take them down. Trying to see if I can find their guy on the inside, too.>> He tasked the interior Fly-Spy with finding him, based on a set of criteria he'd provided.
Full Version: Looking Glass [2075: Game World]
Nikki, August 22, 2075, 8:26 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
No interior alarms...easily knocked out the front guard...there are inside guards somewhere...let them knock each other out...likely can't get in front of them without notice...guys are already in position...let's not confuse the grounds with a third situation and should back off to the road for a later insertion...should I get out now and perhaps walk in?...
@All, I'll back out the drive and position the car on the road near the entrance. Do you want me to get out and join you somewhere or stay with the car?
No interior alarms...easily knocked out the front guard...there are inside guards somewhere...let them knock each other out...likely can't get in front of them without notice...guys are already in position...let's not confuse the grounds with a third situation and should back off to the road for a later insertion...should I get out now and perhaps walk in?...
@All, I'll back out the drive and position the car on the road near the entrance. Do you want me to get out and join you somewhere or stay with the car?
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:26PM, technowitch central, Seattle]
His finger caressing the rifle's trigger as the black Landrovers pulled into the circular drive, Al was relieved but more than a little disappointed at the expensive one's transmission. Letting the newcomers and site security soften each other up - assuming site security was going to do anything effective - was the better plan, and he was glad cooler heads had prevailed. But at the same time, he'd taken a liking to taking these smug bastards down a notch.
Still, he had no doubt it would come to that sooner than later. Good things, and all that. He congratulated himself on his patience and far-reaching view of the unfolding situation.
"Mother," he rasped into the mic, "jist stay off they radar, with gittin' close to the main parkin' area a tight second priority. Reckon these fellers already know whut we's all jist tipped to, that the real action is under the therapy shack. Assumin' they go in there, we kin organize our own entry on their six nice an' orderly as we please." Time seemed to crawl as he watched the vehicles slow, wondering which entrance they'd stop at. "But if'n they go fer the housing unit, well, only thing in there is us'n, in which case we gotta assume they's target is us. They head in there, we got no play but ta hit 'em hard an' hit 'em now."
His finger caressing the rifle's trigger as the black Landrovers pulled into the circular drive, Al was relieved but more than a little disappointed at the expensive one's transmission. Letting the newcomers and site security soften each other up - assuming site security was going to do anything effective - was the better plan, and he was glad cooler heads had prevailed. But at the same time, he'd taken a liking to taking these smug bastards down a notch.
Still, he had no doubt it would come to that sooner than later. Good things, and all that. He congratulated himself on his patience and far-reaching view of the unfolding situation.
"Mother," he rasped into the mic, "jist stay off they radar, with gittin' close to the main parkin' area a tight second priority. Reckon these fellers already know whut we's all jist tipped to, that the real action is under the therapy shack. Assumin' they go in there, we kin organize our own entry on their six nice an' orderly as we please." Time seemed to crawl as he watched the vehicles slow, wondering which entrance they'd stop at. "But if'n they go fer the housing unit, well, only thing in there is us'n, in which case we gotta assume they's target is us. They head in there, we got no play but ta hit 'em hard an' hit 'em now."
Overdrive, August 22, 2075; 8:26PM, SMHF]
As much as he wanted a little excitement, as good as it would have been to get the adrenaline pumping and mix it up, Titus was glad the limo-lady was backing off. @All <<Might be another play there, SimStar. If they ARE going for the basement complex, seems to me we want to get there first, maybe grab our objectives and get out before they have a chance to catch up; if they do catch up, then we hit them from both sides and take the out before they know what hit 'em. Thinking maybe the inside team should get down to the basement while they still have relatively unrestricted mobility.>>
As much as he wanted a little excitement, as good as it would have been to get the adrenaline pumping and mix it up, Titus was glad the limo-lady was backing off. @All <<Might be another play there, SimStar. If they ARE going for the basement complex, seems to me we want to get there first, maybe grab our objectives and get out before they have a chance to catch up; if they do catch up, then we hit them from both sides and take the out before they know what hit 'em. Thinking maybe the inside team should get down to the basement while they still have relatively unrestricted mobility.>>
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:26PM, technowitch central, Seattle]
"Can't argue with that, OD. Their call, though. Whaddaya say, Pandora? Up for it? Or more important, kin ya git organized an' over there fast enough - they's almost on ya…."
"Can't argue with that, OD. Their call, though. Whaddaya say, Pandora? Up for it? Or more important, kin ya git organized an' over there fast enough - they's almost on ya…."
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:15PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle]
@All <<If necessary, I can buy us a little time. The host is able to lock doors, set off sprinklers, and so on. But yes, we need to make our move, and soon.>> The witch stared at the feed from the security cameras. <<If the situation gets completely out of hand, the authorities can receive a panicked call from some passerby who saw the place get shot up. That, of course, would be our last resort.>>
@All <<If necessary, I can buy us a little time. The host is able to lock doors, set off sprinklers, and so on. But yes, we need to make our move, and soon.>> The witch stared at the feed from the security cameras. <<If the situation gets completely out of hand, the authorities can receive a panicked call from some passerby who saw the place get shot up. That, of course, would be our last resort.>>
[Overdrive, August 22nd, 2075; 8:26PM, SMHF]
@All <<That's not a bad idea, but how can we mask it? If this is turning into a race, I figure we want to be the only ones we know about that for as long as we can.>>
@All <<That's not a bad idea, but how can we mask it? If this is turning into a race, I figure we want to be the only ones we know about that for as long as we can.>>
Lany Argyle, August 22, 2075, 8:26 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Assessing the situation, Lany looked over at Jan, the ex-soldier and weapon specialist who had come in as part of the HVAC crew, and nodded to start gearing up, then responded;
<<@Team[Pandora]:We are preparing to take the route down through the vents, I will make sure that we are in position should they try to come down through the lift in the Therapy Building, and give them an unexpected "Hoi, Chummers!" when they reach bottom.>>
Assessing the situation, Lany looked over at Jan, the ex-soldier and weapon specialist who had come in as part of the HVAC crew, and nodded to start gearing up, then responded;
<<@Team[Pandora]:We are preparing to take the route down through the vents, I will make sure that we are in position should they try to come down through the lift in the Therapy Building, and give them an unexpected "Hoi, Chummers!" when they reach bottom.>>
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:26PM, technowitch central, Seattle]
"Roger that, Pandora. Once ya git down there, you kin divide yer resources between bushwhackin' an' gittin' bizness done. Jist remember, we git the job done, we kin leave without ambushin' anyone. An' if'n ya spot any security down there, ya might jist lay low an' let 'em see our new friends first." Al unkeyed the mic momentarily to hack up a wad of phlegm and send it earthward. "Either way, we'll follow 'em down at a distance, complete the pincer, back y'all up."
Assuming, that was, that they did indeed go into the therapy facility.
Hell of a lot of assuming going on.
He kept his finger on the trigger.
"Roger that, Pandora. Once ya git down there, you kin divide yer resources between bushwhackin' an' gittin' bizness done. Jist remember, we git the job done, we kin leave without ambushin' anyone. An' if'n ya spot any security down there, ya might jist lay low an' let 'em see our new friends first." Al unkeyed the mic momentarily to hack up a wad of phlegm and send it earthward. "Either way, we'll follow 'em down at a distance, complete the pincer, back y'all up."
Assuming, that was, that they did indeed go into the therapy facility.
Hell of a lot of assuming going on.
He kept his finger on the trigger.
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; Unknown matrix node, Seattle]
Silk watched with one eye on the unfurling events outside the facility and another on the low res vid feed that Overdrive’s drone had captured on its tour of the below ground space that shouldn’t be there.
The two Range Rovers cruised up the drive and swung into the parking area next to the therapy block. In a well coordinated sweep they turned back on themselves and quickly backed up so that they were in parallel either side of the entrance with their rear doors about a meter from the building and leaving a couple of meters between the two of them. Into this fortified lobby a bloody great troll levered himself and a massive shield out of the left hand vehicle and crouched between the two forming the gate to their castle.
The vid feed from below showed the patients going about a strange set of routines. Some were simply walking through the light and airy basement in a random pattern. Others were going through Tai Chi type routines in a matted dojo off the main space. More were reclining in comfortable couches… it looked, serene, an impression reinforced by the simple white dresses or pyjama like outfits they all wore. Those that were presumably the missing staff were dressed in grey versions of the same. At least when the runners got down there it would be easy enough to distinguish between them…
Silk watched with one eye on the unfurling events outside the facility and another on the low res vid feed that Overdrive’s drone had captured on its tour of the below ground space that shouldn’t be there.
The two Range Rovers cruised up the drive and swung into the parking area next to the therapy block. In a well coordinated sweep they turned back on themselves and quickly backed up so that they were in parallel either side of the entrance with their rear doors about a meter from the building and leaving a couple of meters between the two of them. Into this fortified lobby a bloody great troll levered himself and a massive shield out of the left hand vehicle and crouched between the two forming the gate to their castle.
The vid feed from below showed the patients going about a strange set of routines. Some were simply walking through the light and airy basement in a random pattern. Others were going through Tai Chi type routines in a matted dojo off the main space. More were reclining in comfortable couches… it looked, serene, an impression reinforced by the simple white dresses or pyjama like outfits they all wore. Those that were presumably the missing staff were dressed in grey versions of the same. At least when the runners got down there it would be easy enough to distinguish between them…
[Al, Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:27PM, badass pro convention center, Seattle]
For the second time in as many minutes, Al was simultaneously relieved and disappointed. Relieved this time because the worst case scenario - his own team was the target - was not the case. The bad guys were deploying for entry into the therapy building. Even better, that meant they still had the initiative - his people had eyes on the bad guys, but their own presence was apparently undetected.
Disappointed because not only were these guys obvious pros - which he'd expected anyway - but because even though they seemed to have some sort of matrix or humint asset already in place, they were playing it careful. It seemed obvious now that they would leave a rear guard at the entrance, probably both interior and exterior of their vehicles. It wasn't something the outside team would be able to take out quietly, and they needed to get in there to complete the back-up pincer for the inside team.
He couldn't use the display from his commlink, since the light would give away his position. He also wasn't willing to take his eye off the scope, with its crosshairs sitting steady on the troll's forehead. So he bit the bullet again and routed the building schematics to his image link, looking for another quick way into the therapy building that would bypass the bad guys' rear guard.
And then there was the other question. "MovieIdol here folks. When this here party moves ta the basement or therapy suite, our li'l ol' trail of RFID joy ain't gon' do us much good, is it?"
For the second time in as many minutes, Al was simultaneously relieved and disappointed. Relieved this time because the worst case scenario - his own team was the target - was not the case. The bad guys were deploying for entry into the therapy building. Even better, that meant they still had the initiative - his people had eyes on the bad guys, but their own presence was apparently undetected.
Disappointed because not only were these guys obvious pros - which he'd expected anyway - but because even though they seemed to have some sort of matrix or humint asset already in place, they were playing it careful. It seemed obvious now that they would leave a rear guard at the entrance, probably both interior and exterior of their vehicles. It wasn't something the outside team would be able to take out quietly, and they needed to get in there to complete the back-up pincer for the inside team.
He couldn't use the display from his commlink, since the light would give away his position. He also wasn't willing to take his eye off the scope, with its crosshairs sitting steady on the troll's forehead. So he bit the bullet again and routed the building schematics to his image link, looking for another quick way into the therapy building that would bypass the bad guys' rear guard.
And then there was the other question. "MovieIdol here folks. When this here party moves ta the basement or therapy suite, our li'l ol' trail of RFID joy ain't gon' do us much good, is it?"
Jan
August 22, 2075, 8:27 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Jan mentally assessed the situation as events were starting to unfold before jumping decisively into action. "I'm going down hard" he communicated to those immediately around him, and then turned to Lany "Follow me through".
He took his knife and quickly prized the cover from the duct before levering it open - no time for screws and drills and covering tracks now. Once it was free he tore it off and dropped it to the floor before swinging feet-first into the hole.
Bracing his feet against the far side of the duct he shouldered his way a few meters before dropping the rest of the way, landing with a thump. Crusader II drawn, he squinted through the vent on this level and reported what he saw back to the CIC.
August 22, 2075, 8:27 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Jan mentally assessed the situation as events were starting to unfold before jumping decisively into action. "I'm going down hard" he communicated to those immediately around him, and then turned to Lany "Follow me through".
He took his knife and quickly prized the cover from the duct before levering it open - no time for screws and drills and covering tracks now. Once it was free he tore it off and dropped it to the floor before swinging feet-first into the hole.
Bracing his feet against the far side of the duct he shouldered his way a few meters before dropping the rest of the way, landing with a thump. Crusader II drawn, he squinted through the vent on this level and reported what he saw back to the CIC.
Lany Argyle, August 22, 2075, 8:27 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Lany watched as Jan took the lead and leapt into the Main Access Vent, Lany then jumped into action. She went to the supply trolley and pulled out the large duffel containing the team's heavy weapons and ammo, primarily her SCK Model 100 SMG and Jan's AK-97, and strapped the SMG to her back, checked the AK, closed the bag, and proceeded to toss it into the vent with a quick "Head's Up," and listened as Jan deftly caught it inside.
Not wanting to be outdone by the ex-soldier, Lany smiled over at LeFey right before she took a quick sprint and vaulted into the duct with unbelievable grace and landed beside Jan in the duct. She immediately drew her Predator, the heavy pistol looking oversized in her small hands, checking her Smartlink and loading it with a mag of Explosive rounds, wanting to be ready for what she considered inevitable; hostile contact using deadly force. "Should have brought some APDS; I wasn't planning on us having to deal with a heavily armed and armored Assault Team." she said to Jan with a sarcastic grin.
As she said that something dawned on her; she immediately jumped up and stuck her head out of the duct looking directly at LeFey and Collot, "Wait, what happens when you two go down there? If Al is right and that place is completely cut off and our RFID Network might not get through down there, how will you keep from becoming like them?" she said, looking at one of the monitors displaying the feed from the basement below, the patient's nearly zombified.
Lany watched as Jan took the lead and leapt into the Main Access Vent, Lany then jumped into action. She went to the supply trolley and pulled out the large duffel containing the team's heavy weapons and ammo, primarily her SCK Model 100 SMG and Jan's AK-97, and strapped the SMG to her back, checked the AK, closed the bag, and proceeded to toss it into the vent with a quick "Head's Up," and listened as Jan deftly caught it inside.
Not wanting to be outdone by the ex-soldier, Lany smiled over at LeFey right before she took a quick sprint and vaulted into the duct with unbelievable grace and landed beside Jan in the duct. She immediately drew her Predator, the heavy pistol looking oversized in her small hands, checking her Smartlink and loading it with a mag of Explosive rounds, wanting to be ready for what she considered inevitable; hostile contact using deadly force. "Should have brought some APDS; I wasn't planning on us having to deal with a heavily armed and armored Assault Team." she said to Jan with a sarcastic grin.
As she said that something dawned on her; she immediately jumped up and stuck her head out of the duct looking directly at LeFey and Collot, "Wait, what happens when you two go down there? If Al is right and that place is completely cut off and our RFID Network might not get through down there, how will you keep from becoming like them?" she said, looking at one of the monitors displaying the feed from the basement below, the patient's nearly zombified.
Jan
August 22, 2075, 8:27 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
"I don't think they'll be coming down here..." Jan said, answering a question that wasn't really addressed to him. "Our situation has changed. We'll see how this play goes".
He looked down at Lany squashed up next to him in the ducting. She was young and seeming very athletic. He hoped she had a killer instinct to match it. "You might wanne consider going wireless-dark down here". He nodded towards Lany's Smartlink. "You never know how these crazy Techno bastards are gonne react to something like that, especially after being cut off for months". It made little difference to Jan anyway; several bad experiences has left his use of technology purely recreational. Fair enough, he wasn't in Azania now. The tech here was better quality and the conditions less extreme. He'd considered trying some of the new stuff out but always fell back on the comfort of his old throwbacks.
He spoke into his subvocal mic <<@All[Jan]:"We're going down and I'm going comms-off. You'll have to judge from the outside how we're doing. We'll keep a path clear back to the AC duct so be ready to haul out if we need to. See you on the other side.">> and with that, he was gone.
August 22, 2075, 8:27 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
"I don't think they'll be coming down here..." Jan said, answering a question that wasn't really addressed to him. "Our situation has changed. We'll see how this play goes".
He looked down at Lany squashed up next to him in the ducting. She was young and seeming very athletic. He hoped she had a killer instinct to match it. "You might wanne consider going wireless-dark down here". He nodded towards Lany's Smartlink. "You never know how these crazy Techno bastards are gonne react to something like that, especially after being cut off for months". It made little difference to Jan anyway; several bad experiences has left his use of technology purely recreational. Fair enough, he wasn't in Azania now. The tech here was better quality and the conditions less extreme. He'd considered trying some of the new stuff out but always fell back on the comfort of his old throwbacks.
He spoke into his subvocal mic <<@All[Jan]:"We're going down and I'm going comms-off. You'll have to judge from the outside how we're doing. We'll keep a path clear back to the AC duct so be ready to haul out if we need to. See you on the other side.">> and with that, he was gone.
Nikki, August 22, 2075, 8:27 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Sam is now parked near the entrance of the facility, just waiting for a cue to move. Nikki has her alpha strapped to her now to save some time in getting out.
@All, I don't think we should sit here too long... Nikki is interrupted hearing the comms off plan...
Comms off...now how are we going to know if there is a problem inside...I don't like this...we can't even give them warnings now....
@All, comms off will create some problems. We need to be prepared for some new scenarios. How long do we wait for information before going in?
Sam is now parked near the entrance of the facility, just waiting for a cue to move. Nikki has her alpha strapped to her now to save some time in getting out.
@All, I don't think we should sit here too long... Nikki is interrupted hearing the comms off plan...
Comms off...now how are we going to know if there is a problem inside...I don't like this...we can't even give them warnings now....
@All, comms off will create some problems. We need to be prepared for some new scenarios. How long do we wait for information before going in?
[Overdrive, August 22, 2075, 8:27PM, SMHF]
Titus cursed inwardly. Then, still frustrated, he cursed outwardly. @All <<Ghost-fragging dammit. If you guys run comms dark, we don't know where you are to be able to implement the pincer or come back you up. Pandora, you still online?>> This run had a lot of moving parts. A damned lot. Last thing he needed right now was to lose track of those parts. Getting hacked wouldn't be good; getting killed because the whole plan devolved into chaos would be worse.
Titus cursed inwardly. Then, still frustrated, he cursed outwardly. @All <<Ghost-fragging dammit. If you guys run comms dark, we don't know where you are to be able to implement the pincer or come back you up. Pandora, you still online?>> This run had a lot of moving parts. A damned lot. Last thing he needed right now was to lose track of those parts. Getting hacked wouldn't be good; getting killed because the whole plan devolved into chaos would be worse.
[Al, Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:27PM, badass pro convention center, Seattle]
Al was a great multitasker. He had been known to puff a cigarette, pop a can of beer, scratch his ass, urinate, and contemplate the vastness of deity all in the same exact moment.
Right now, on top of sighting in on the troll's head and scanning the building plans in AR, he was both sighing and chuckling. This hootenanny was going about exactly as smoothly as he'd expected it would.
Well, when life hands you lemons, you squirt the juice in the other feller's eyes and then kick him in the nuts.
He flipped off his image link and talked to the team. "Okay, outside crew, found a way into the therapy building that bypasses the bandits, but frankly folks, we jist ain't no longer blessed with the time to go all ninja on this show. Any moment now it's gon' be time fer us to shoot whoever's out here with 'bout a million drones an' then git in that place. An' Mother, that moment happens ta be precisely when you take out the computer geek in the sec shack. An' that, muh dear, should be right NOW."
Al was a great multitasker. He had been known to puff a cigarette, pop a can of beer, scratch his ass, urinate, and contemplate the vastness of deity all in the same exact moment.
Right now, on top of sighting in on the troll's head and scanning the building plans in AR, he was both sighing and chuckling. This hootenanny was going about exactly as smoothly as he'd expected it would.
Well, when life hands you lemons, you squirt the juice in the other feller's eyes and then kick him in the nuts.
He flipped off his image link and talked to the team. "Okay, outside crew, found a way into the therapy building that bypasses the bandits, but frankly folks, we jist ain't no longer blessed with the time to go all ninja on this show. Any moment now it's gon' be time fer us to shoot whoever's out here with 'bout a million drones an' then git in that place. An' Mother, that moment happens ta be precisely when you take out the computer geek in the sec shack. An' that, muh dear, should be right NOW."
[Overdrive, August 22, 2075, SMHF]
At this point, the interior Fly-Spy, tasked to track the inside man based first on a precompiled list of points of interest, reached the security office. @All <<Got visual inside the sec shack. You should have access to the feed. I still need to find a way to get my drones into the basement to back the team down there up, though.>> Getting some serious multitasking in, he was working out attack vectors for his drones while monitoring all his feeds and searching the plans for a cargo elevator large enough for his purposes. Thank spirits for hotsim.
At this point, the interior Fly-Spy, tasked to track the inside man based first on a precompiled list of points of interest, reached the security office. @All <<Got visual inside the sec shack. You should have access to the feed. I still need to find a way to get my drones into the basement to back the team down there up, though.>> Getting some serious multitasking in, he was working out attack vectors for his drones while monitoring all his feeds and searching the plans for a cargo elevator large enough for his purposes. Thank spirits for hotsim.
Jan
August 22, 2075, 8:28 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Jan crept along the mezzanine, looking for a way down to the ground. With his wireless inactive the figures below didn't seem to notice him as they had the drone earlier. He crouched low and leaned against the railing, scanning the milieu below for the faces of their extraction targets...
August 22, 2075, 8:28 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Jan crept along the mezzanine, looking for a way down to the ground. With his wireless inactive the figures below didn't seem to notice him as they had the drone earlier. He crouched low and leaned against the railing, scanning the milieu below for the faces of their extraction targets...
Lany Argyle, August 22, 2075, 8:28 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Lany was torn. With Jan proceeding in, she knew they had to move. But she had been assigned the task of making sure that all the members of her team got out safely, and knew it was far too dangerous to leave the lightly armed half of their crew so close to the heavily armed assault team. Hearing Overdrive's message she responded;
<<@All[Pandora]: I'm still here. I will keep up comms while we are in the vents, but I doubt we will be able to keep them up once we get down there. I will let you know when we are making our final descent, and we will make sure to be in position for the pincer as soon as possible.>>
After she had finished, she pulled herself back out of the vent into the CIC. She looked at the rest of the team's confused expressions, and spoke up, "Alright, gear up everyone. We are all going in. We head into the vents, extend our RFID Net as far in as we can, and see if we can give LeFey and Collot a lifeline. If it doesn't work, you take cover in the vents and do what you can with your hacking skills from there. I am not leaving you guys up here with that SWAT team barely 100 meters away."
Lany was torn. With Jan proceeding in, she knew they had to move. But she had been assigned the task of making sure that all the members of her team got out safely, and knew it was far too dangerous to leave the lightly armed half of their crew so close to the heavily armed assault team. Hearing Overdrive's message she responded;
<<@All[Pandora]: I'm still here. I will keep up comms while we are in the vents, but I doubt we will be able to keep them up once we get down there. I will let you know when we are making our final descent, and we will make sure to be in position for the pincer as soon as possible.>>
After she had finished, she pulled herself back out of the vent into the CIC. She looked at the rest of the team's confused expressions, and spoke up, "Alright, gear up everyone. We are all going in. We head into the vents, extend our RFID Net as far in as we can, and see if we can give LeFey and Collot a lifeline. If it doesn't work, you take cover in the vents and do what you can with your hacking skills from there. I am not leaving you guys up here with that SWAT team barely 100 meters away."
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle]
@LeFey:
A dim warning sounds throughout the host and a shutdown countdown scrolls across the basic iconography as the host begins to power down. The spider simultaneously triggers the unlock sequence on the main doors to the therapy building…other than that one you suspect the doors will fail closed as a security feature and will require manual overrides to pass…
@Al and Overdrive:
Although your views are hampered by the parking arrangement of the two Rovers the drone feeds clearly show six black clad bodies exiting the doors facing into their protected corridor and making for the entrance to the building…they are crouched low, moving in controlled bursts reminiscent of a SWAT entry…the troll remains crouched facing out into the car park behind his overlarge ballistic shield…
@Nikki:
You step over the rather surprised looking corpsec with two neat holes in the armoured uniform over his sternum. An AR window indicates Overdrive’s microdrone feed of the room just ahead of you; four sprawling corpsec with no apparent injuries, another standing watch and a black clad form decked in to a console…an elf or slim human judging by their build, there’s not much else you can glean from the padded ski mask and goggles…
@Lany:
Crouched in the tight duct you are just glad that you aren’t claustrophobic. Looking down by your feet, just along the horizontal run, you can barely make out Jan as he proceeds into the basement area…the others are crouched uncomfortably above you, wedged into the walls of the vertical duct rise...
@Jan:
On your left is the drop to the floor below and the sounds of movement seemingly consistent with day to day life in whatever this place is. There are doors on your right that lead into rooms glimpsed through the glazed panels, administrative offices by the looks of things.
Ahead you can see where the mezzanine curves round towards the general direction of the therapy building. There are a sweep of steps leading down and the sound of someone coming up them, whistling some kind of pop tune of all things, there's no real cover up here, some planted ferns on the edge of the mezzanine...and the room to your right is occupied...
@LeFey:
A dim warning sounds throughout the host and a shutdown countdown scrolls across the basic iconography as the host begins to power down. The spider simultaneously triggers the unlock sequence on the main doors to the therapy building…other than that one you suspect the doors will fail closed as a security feature and will require manual overrides to pass…
@Al and Overdrive:
Although your views are hampered by the parking arrangement of the two Rovers the drone feeds clearly show six black clad bodies exiting the doors facing into their protected corridor and making for the entrance to the building…they are crouched low, moving in controlled bursts reminiscent of a SWAT entry…the troll remains crouched facing out into the car park behind his overlarge ballistic shield…
@Nikki:
You step over the rather surprised looking corpsec with two neat holes in the armoured uniform over his sternum. An AR window indicates Overdrive’s microdrone feed of the room just ahead of you; four sprawling corpsec with no apparent injuries, another standing watch and a black clad form decked in to a console…an elf or slim human judging by their build, there’s not much else you can glean from the padded ski mask and goggles…
@Lany:
Crouched in the tight duct you are just glad that you aren’t claustrophobic. Looking down by your feet, just along the horizontal run, you can barely make out Jan as he proceeds into the basement area…the others are crouched uncomfortably above you, wedged into the walls of the vertical duct rise...
@Jan:
On your left is the drop to the floor below and the sounds of movement seemingly consistent with day to day life in whatever this place is. There are doors on your right that lead into rooms glimpsed through the glazed panels, administrative offices by the looks of things.
Ahead you can see where the mezzanine curves round towards the general direction of the therapy building. There are a sweep of steps leading down and the sound of someone coming up them, whistling some kind of pop tune of all things, there's no real cover up here, some planted ferns on the edge of the mezzanine...and the room to your right is occupied...
[Ali/Nyx - Thursday August 22nd, 2075; Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle]
From her position at the rear of the group inside the ducts, Ali grimaced at the amount of noise that was being made as the group shuffled through the tight spaces. She inched down the vertical run of the ducting with the grace and silence of a cat having cherry-picked the essentials of her gear that she brought inside for the descent into the basement.
While Lany and Jan took point, she was watching their six and extending the RFID tag network as they went along, hoping that the distance between her and her team wouldn't be so great that they'd be running unintentionally silent! but it would mask or shield their link to the outside from those below long enough to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to themselves.
<<@Jan [Nyx]: OK Captain America, you two have a plan to get inside once you're down there with the package? Better yet, have a plan to get out with our prizes if this goes tits up and you get noticed by the staff below or the ceiling comes crashing down from the team headed our way?>>
It wasn't that Ali was trying to be intentionally confrontational, but if it hit the fan, there was going to be very little she was going to be able to do from the rear without putting LeFey at risk of being exposed. Her mind was already spinning at speed, drawing from what little info they had from Overdrive's drone mapping and what visuals they could make out through the vents to form an escape plan if their lead muscle decided to go in with force.
From her position at the rear of the group inside the ducts, Ali grimaced at the amount of noise that was being made as the group shuffled through the tight spaces. She inched down the vertical run of the ducting with the grace and silence of a cat having cherry-picked the essentials of her gear that she brought inside for the descent into the basement.
While Lany and Jan took point, she was watching their six and extending the RFID tag network as they went along, hoping that the distance between her and her team wouldn't be so great that they'd be running unintentionally silent! but it would mask or shield their link to the outside from those below long enough to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to themselves.
<<@Jan [Nyx]: OK Captain America, you two have a plan to get inside once you're down there with the package? Better yet, have a plan to get out with our prizes if this goes tits up and you get noticed by the staff below or the ceiling comes crashing down from the team headed our way?>>
It wasn't that Ali was trying to be intentionally confrontational, but if it hit the fan, there was going to be very little she was going to be able to do from the rear without putting LeFey at risk of being exposed. Her mind was already spinning at speed, drawing from what little info they had from Overdrive's drone mapping and what visuals they could make out through the vents to form an escape plan if their lead muscle decided to go in with force.
Nikki, August 22, 2075, 8:30 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Sneaking into the room may be difficult...can I get a shot at the decker before getting hit... Nikki muses to herself.
She agrees the decker has to go. Sending a message to her team subvocally, Guys, I'm going in to get the decker...now!
Sneaking into the room may be difficult...can I get a shot at the decker before getting hit... Nikki muses to herself.
She agrees the decker has to go. Sending a message to her team subvocally, Guys, I'm going in to get the decker...now!
[ Spoiler ]
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:15PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle]
"Perfect timing," LeFey mutters to herself. The countdown began only seconds after the sylph had manifested in the matrix. LeFey nodded at her companion, an elven woman by appearance. That is, until you noticed the diaphanous wings folded across her back, or the clawed hands hidden in the folds of her silk dress. "I'm going to keep this host running as long as we need it to." Otherwise, there would be no way out. She indicated the spider. "Stop them if they attempt to interfere. That will be the first of your four services to me."
Floating down to the "floor", LeFey dropped to a knee and placed both hands on the surface. She reached out with her will, attempting to force a cancellation of the shutdown.
"Perfect timing," LeFey mutters to herself. The countdown began only seconds after the sylph had manifested in the matrix. LeFey nodded at her companion, an elven woman by appearance. That is, until you noticed the diaphanous wings folded across her back, or the clawed hands hidden in the folds of her silk dress. "I'm going to keep this host running as long as we need it to." Otherwise, there would be no way out. She indicated the spider. "Stop them if they attempt to interfere. That will be the first of your four services to me."
Floating down to the "floor", LeFey dropped to a knee and placed both hands on the surface. She reached out with her will, attempting to force a cancellation of the shutdown.
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle]
@LeFey:
As you exert your will over the host the warning countdown projected in your vision goes dark. The spider reacts as if stung, attack programs bristling from his boring corporate iconography...and suddenly his icon deresses as Nikki's message hovers in view. It would seem the host is your domain now to do with as you will, at least until you rack up enough of a count that it locks down by itself...
@Nikki:
The decker is slouched at a console which was presumably vacated by one of the poor unfortunates lying on the floor at his feet. His slightly corpulent form tells the story of a couch hound but his frame is muscular beneath the flab and the layers of ballistic cloth. For the tungsten penetrators in your sabot rounds he might as well be wearing paper...
@Al:
As Nikki confirms her shot your round whispers down range and slams into the side of his head just above one of the twisted horns protruding from his helmet and unsurprisingly he disappears from view down between the two Rovers...
@Overdrive:
Al's shot was clean to the head and you get a vivid view of the impact from your drone feeds...looks like the fragger is still with us though, round must have grazed a horn and prevented a straight kill...
@Lany & Jan:
You are poised to act as the whistler comes up the stairs into view...you can see why you thought it was a man, the timbre of the voice is deceiving. The skinny troll girl looks to be about eighteen (so is probably about thirteen or so), dressed in the same white dresses that you have seen on the others. She looks at you quizzically...
@LeFey:
As you exert your will over the host the warning countdown projected in your vision goes dark. The spider reacts as if stung, attack programs bristling from his boring corporate iconography...and suddenly his icon deresses as Nikki's message hovers in view. It would seem the host is your domain now to do with as you will, at least until you rack up enough of a count that it locks down by itself...
@Nikki:
The decker is slouched at a console which was presumably vacated by one of the poor unfortunates lying on the floor at his feet. His slightly corpulent form tells the story of a couch hound but his frame is muscular beneath the flab and the layers of ballistic cloth. For the tungsten penetrators in your sabot rounds he might as well be wearing paper...
@Al:
As Nikki confirms her shot your round whispers down range and slams into the side of his head just above one of the twisted horns protruding from his helmet and unsurprisingly he disappears from view down between the two Rovers...
@Overdrive:
Al's shot was clean to the head and you get a vivid view of the impact from your drone feeds...looks like the fragger is still with us though, round must have grazed a horn and prevented a straight kill...
@Lany & Jan:
You are poised to act as the whistler comes up the stairs into view...you can see why you thought it was a man, the timbre of the voice is deceiving. The skinny troll girl looks to be about eighteen (so is probably about thirteen or so), dressed in the same white dresses that you have seen on the others. She looks at you quizzically...
[Al, Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:30PM, trog kill zone, Seattle]
The Upscale One's go signal was crisp in Al's earbud, and he exhaled, applying easy pressure to the trigger. He had the pull set for exactly eight ounces, and it was almost a surprise when the Remington's butt bucked against his right shoulder. He automatically worked the bolt action to eject the spent casing and slide another one into the chamber.
The impact was too fast to follow on the first viewing, but he played it back on his image link at 1/20th speed, positively marking the head shot.
"Like it says inna Good Book, bigger they are…" he whispered to himself, wishing mightily for a cigarette.
He had no illusions, though, about the beast being down for the count, and a quick check of the drone feed confirmed that.
Still, he felt fairly secure hidden up in the tree thirty meters out. Then he remembered that the trog's goblin-sight would pick him out like a candle right through all those leaves, and he nestled up a little closer to the tree's trunk, waiting for it to show its head while scanning quickly for other hostiles.
The Upscale One's go signal was crisp in Al's earbud, and he exhaled, applying easy pressure to the trigger. He had the pull set for exactly eight ounces, and it was almost a surprise when the Remington's butt bucked against his right shoulder. He automatically worked the bolt action to eject the spent casing and slide another one into the chamber.
The impact was too fast to follow on the first viewing, but he played it back on his image link at 1/20th speed, positively marking the head shot.
"Like it says inna Good Book, bigger they are…" he whispered to himself, wishing mightily for a cigarette.
He had no illusions, though, about the beast being down for the count, and a quick check of the drone feed confirmed that.
Still, he felt fairly secure hidden up in the tree thirty meters out. Then he remembered that the trog's goblin-sight would pick him out like a candle right through all those leaves, and he nestled up a little closer to the tree's trunk, waiting for it to show its head while scanning quickly for other hostiles.
Lany Argyle, August 22, 2075, 8:30 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Hearing the whistler fast approaching, Lany readied to run wireless-dark, leaving only her microtransceiver running and pulling out a datacable she had tucked in her sleave, creating a hardline running from her Datajack to her Predator's Smartgun system. She composed a quick message to the team before she turned of her AR display.
<<@Team[Pandora]: Going wireless dark, microtansceiver communications only.>>
She then threw her duffel over her shoulder and jumped down from the vents. Upon landing, she quickly tucked her duffel behind one of the planter and got into position alongside Jan.
"Lets bait her in" Jan whispered to Lany, and the two got into position to be walking away from her as she crested the top of the stairs.
Hearing the whistler fast approaching, Lany readied to run wireless-dark, leaving only her microtransceiver running and pulling out a datacable she had tucked in her sleave, creating a hardline running from her Datajack to her Predator's Smartgun system. She composed a quick message to the team before she turned of her AR display.
<<@Team[Pandora]: Going wireless dark, microtansceiver communications only.>>
She then threw her duffel over her shoulder and jumped down from the vents. Upon landing, she quickly tucked her duffel behind one of the planter and got into position alongside Jan.
"Lets bait her in" Jan whispered to Lany, and the two got into position to be walking away from her as she crested the top of the stairs.
Nikki, August 22, 2075, 8:31 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Tracking her kills and sharing progress sub-vocally,
The decker is down, I'm going for his friends now...afterwards I'm going to see if I can find out who they are and where they came from...
Tracking her kills and sharing progress sub-vocally,
The decker is down, I'm going for his friends now...afterwards I'm going to see if I can find out who they are and where they came from...
[Ali Moneaux, Thursday August 22nd, 2075; Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle]
Ali silently cursed beneath her breath as she realized a number of things at once. One, her message to Jan had gone unheard as he had already gone to microtranceivers before she could send it off. Two, things were escalating at a rapid pace on the facility’s compound. And three, those remaining in the vents still had the element of surprise as well as invisibility for the time being.
<<@LeFey [Nyx]: “Can you get me a feed of the cameras in the hallways running parallel to this HVAC run and pipe them to me directly?”>>
Ali figured if she could keep tabs on anyone not on their team making a breech entry on the upper levels of the Therapy Building, she’d have a clean shot through the ducts and the wall if she could translate positions on camera to where she was. That is if they weren’t marching in an army.
<<@Jan/Lany [Nyx]: “I have your egress back up through the vents if everything goes sideways and you need another way out.”>>
Ali silently cursed beneath her breath as she realized a number of things at once. One, her message to Jan had gone unheard as he had already gone to microtranceivers before she could send it off. Two, things were escalating at a rapid pace on the facility’s compound. And three, those remaining in the vents still had the element of surprise as well as invisibility for the time being.
<<@LeFey [Nyx]: “Can you get me a feed of the cameras in the hallways running parallel to this HVAC run and pipe them to me directly?”>>
Ali figured if she could keep tabs on anyone not on their team making a breech entry on the upper levels of the Therapy Building, she’d have a clean shot through the ducts and the wall if she could translate positions on camera to where she was. That is if they weren’t marching in an army.
<<@Jan/Lany [Nyx]: “I have your egress back up through the vents if everything goes sideways and you need another way out.”>>
[Al, Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:30PM, trog kill zone, Seattle]
Scanning the silhouette of the closest Range Rover for any sign of his target, Al slipped his sights down over the vehicle's nose and struck paydirt - one of the new Auto-Assualt 16s, complete with enlarged grips. Al snickered - big gorilla must've dropped it when he got hit. "Well we shore as all hell wouldn't want that sumbitch pointed in anything resemblin' ol' Al's general direction," the little man muttered to himself as he sent an armor-piercing round slicing like butter through the huge weapon's firing chamber.
Scanning the silhouette of the closest Range Rover for any sign of his target, Al slipped his sights down over the vehicle's nose and struck paydirt - one of the new Auto-Assualt 16s, complete with enlarged grips. Al snickered - big gorilla must've dropped it when he got hit. "Well we shore as all hell wouldn't want that sumbitch pointed in anything resemblin' ol' Al's general direction," the little man muttered to himself as he sent an armor-piercing round slicing like butter through the huge weapon's firing chamber.
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle]
@LeFey:
The spider is gone, the host is yours to do with as you will!
@Nikki:
With the decker neutralised you turn your attention towards the rather surprised guard, presumably the infiltrating runner or coerced employee but as you swing your weapon round to bear he ducks out of this room into what is probably an administrative office...
@Al:
The troll is down, his weapon is slag, you turn your attention towards the therapy building entrance where the other runners disappeared moments before. The angle is bad and you don't have a clear view because of the way the Rovers are parked but with a bit of luck you might be able to snag one if they bolt back out again...
@Overdrive:
So, finish the troll or weigh in on the Rovers...? As you debate the choice for mere miliseconds the Rovers themselves respond, each spitting out three frisbee sized hover drones from racks somewhere on the undercarriage, it would appear they want a better look at their assailants...
@Lany & Jan:
Quickly turning your backs on the troll to preserve your cover for a few moments longer you hear her coming up towards you
"Er, hello...?"
@LeFey:
The spider is gone, the host is yours to do with as you will!
@Nikki:
With the decker neutralised you turn your attention towards the rather surprised guard, presumably the infiltrating runner or coerced employee but as you swing your weapon round to bear he ducks out of this room into what is probably an administrative office...
@Al:
The troll is down, his weapon is slag, you turn your attention towards the therapy building entrance where the other runners disappeared moments before. The angle is bad and you don't have a clear view because of the way the Rovers are parked but with a bit of luck you might be able to snag one if they bolt back out again...
@Overdrive:
So, finish the troll or weigh in on the Rovers...? As you debate the choice for mere miliseconds the Rovers themselves respond, each spitting out three frisbee sized hover drones from racks somewhere on the undercarriage, it would appear they want a better look at their assailants...
@Lany & Jan:
Quickly turning your backs on the troll to preserve your cover for a few moments longer you hear her coming up towards you
"Er, hello...?"
Jan
August 22, 2075, 8:29 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
As the young troll girl approached Jan spun on his heel and drove his elbow up into her face, hoping against hope that he could get enough force behind it to put her out of action before she could react.
She's a non-combatant he mused, and not apparently armoured. Still, these things could be tough to put down in one shot - even the females. Lany would be sure to finish the job he thought confidently as he heard the crunch of bone.
August 22, 2075, 8:29 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
As the young troll girl approached Jan spun on his heel and drove his elbow up into her face, hoping against hope that he could get enough force behind it to put her out of action before she could react.
She's a non-combatant he mused, and not apparently armoured. Still, these things could be tough to put down in one shot - even the females. Lany would be sure to finish the job he thought confidently as he heard the crunch of bone.
Lany Argyle, August 22, 2075, 8:30 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Caught off guard by Jan's strike, Lany quickly followed with her own; driving the palm of her hand into the surprised troll's chest, and sending a surge of electricity into her with her Shock hand.
Caught off guard by Jan's strike, Lany quickly followed with her own; driving the palm of her hand into the surprised troll's chest, and sending a surge of electricity into her with her Shock hand.
[Al, Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:30PM, trog kill zone, Seattle]
Primary weapon out of the picture, but who knew what other nastiness the big troll might have up his extra-long sleeves?
Al was deciding the best way to flush the monster out when the Rovers sent up the drones. He didn't doubt they all had IR...and were looking for him. Too many to shoot them all down, have to hit them at the root.
Well, if there was one thing his Pa had taught him, it was if you were going to throw a stone, best kill at least two birds.
He sighted in low on the side panel that covered the Rover's gas tank...
Primary weapon out of the picture, but who knew what other nastiness the big troll might have up his extra-long sleeves?
Al was deciding the best way to flush the monster out when the Rovers sent up the drones. He didn't doubt they all had IR...and were looking for him. Too many to shoot them all down, have to hit them at the root.
Well, if there was one thing his Pa had taught him, it was if you were going to throw a stone, best kill at least two birds.
He sighted in low on the side panel that covered the Rover's gas tank...
Jan
August 22, 2075, 8:29 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Jan caught the troll before she hit the floor and dragged her stricken form into one of the vacant side rooms nearby. laid her out behind the door, out of sight through the small window, and gave her a brief visual 'dead or not' diagnosis before checking for anything useful on her person.
"I reckon she's a patient bot you can never be sure" he said to Lany, stood behind him. He threw the troll's identity tag up to the young girl. "What you make of that?"
August 22, 2075, 8:29 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Jan caught the troll before she hit the floor and dragged her stricken form into one of the vacant side rooms nearby. laid her out behind the door, out of sight through the small window, and gave her a brief visual 'dead or not' diagnosis before checking for anything useful on her person.
"I reckon she's a patient bot you can never be sure" he said to Lany, stood behind him. He threw the troll's identity tag up to the young girl. "What you make of that?"
Lany Argyle, August 22, 2075, 8:30 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Looking at the ID and then at the young troll's unconscious form, Lany was curious to know what Jan would have done if he had thought it was a guard. She figured she would find out soon enough, and replied to Jan's inquiry, "Patient all right; wow, she's younger than me."
As Jan frisked her, he produced a link from her pocket and handed it to Lany for inspection. She quickly scanned through the contacts; there were only first names, but she checked to see if any of them matched the first names of their extraction targets.
Looking at the ID and then at the young troll's unconscious form, Lany was curious to know what Jan would have done if he had thought it was a guard. She figured she would find out soon enough, and replied to Jan's inquiry, "Patient all right; wow, she's younger than me."
As Jan frisked her, he produced a link from her pocket and handed it to Lany for inspection. She quickly scanned through the contacts; there were only first names, but she checked to see if any of them matched the first names of their extraction targets.
Jan
August 22, 2075, 8:30 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
"Ag, only a laaitie." Jan mused in response. "Wasn't her day is all, don't overly bother yourself with it nè?" he said before standing and positioning himself back near the door. "I'm sure she'll be fine" he finished, knowing full well she probably wouldn't be without urgent medical attention. Medical attention he could have given her if he had the time and inclination. Unfortunately for her, he had neither.
"We need a way to quickly identify our targets and get them back up here to the vents." he said to Lany while bracing his shoulder against the door frame and listening for any further movement on the mezzanine. He was eager to get moving. We want to be in and out of here before that strike team even hits the floor. With only Lany worth anything in a firefight it would be a bastard if we met them head-on...
"Let's move. We can scheme on the way. Finding better cover would be a start but I don't think I can pull off a fokken dress." he said with a smirk, attempting to lighten the weight on the bokkie's shoulders.
August 22, 2075, 8:30 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
"Ag, only a laaitie." Jan mused in response. "Wasn't her day is all, don't overly bother yourself with it nè?" he said before standing and positioning himself back near the door. "I'm sure she'll be fine" he finished, knowing full well she probably wouldn't be without urgent medical attention. Medical attention he could have given her if he had the time and inclination. Unfortunately for her, he had neither.
"We need a way to quickly identify our targets and get them back up here to the vents." he said to Lany while bracing his shoulder against the door frame and listening for any further movement on the mezzanine. He was eager to get moving. We want to be in and out of here before that strike team even hits the floor. With only Lany worth anything in a firefight it would be a bastard if we met them head-on...
"Let's move. We can scheme on the way. Finding better cover would be a start but I don't think I can pull off a fokken dress." he said with a smirk, attempting to lighten the weight on the bokkie's shoulders.
Lany Argyle, August 22, 2075, 8:30 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
With Jan readying to move, Lany grabbed up her duffel and prepared to go, but for the first time, she felt the weight of the bag on her shoulders and looked confused. She had tested the weight of the bag the night before, right before Jan had it loaded up into the HVAC Truck. It was way too heavy.
She looked up at Jan and said, "Hold on,"
Jan nodded with a strangely amused grin and waited by the door.
Lany opened the bag, and while nothing appeared out of place, closer inspection showed that the duffel had a double bottom, and there was something big. Her eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas as she removed the false bottom.
"It's here? She came?"
She pulled out a brand new Yamaha Raiden Assault Rifle, a Gas Vent 3 already mounted, Lany had to restrain herself from reactivating her wireless connections and immediately reaching out with her Smartlink. Instead, she quickly pulled the cable running to her Predator and placed it in the port of the Raiden, feeling the weapon come to life in her hands.
"The smuggler owed me a favor, so I had him send it "Rush Delivery"." Jan said with a smile, "Its already sighted, configured, and ready to go; and there is a tac vest loaded with ammo in the mag."
"She's beautiful." Lany said with the glow and serenity of a mother holding a newborn.
Jan gave Lany a slightly impatient look, "I hate to break up the moment, but we have work to do. And I was hoping we wouldn't actually need that."
Lany powered the Raiden down, setting it in the bag and returning the cable to her Predator. She then quickly slipped into the tac vest, and pulled her coveralls back over it. Ready to move, she leapt through the air into Jan's unsuspecting arms, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed at the volume of a whisper, giving Jan a quick peck on the cheek before hopping down.
With Jan readying to move, Lany grabbed up her duffel and prepared to go, but for the first time, she felt the weight of the bag on her shoulders and looked confused. She had tested the weight of the bag the night before, right before Jan had it loaded up into the HVAC Truck. It was way too heavy.
She looked up at Jan and said, "Hold on,"
Jan nodded with a strangely amused grin and waited by the door.
Lany opened the bag, and while nothing appeared out of place, closer inspection showed that the duffel had a double bottom, and there was something big. Her eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas as she removed the false bottom.
"It's here? She came?"
She pulled out a brand new Yamaha Raiden Assault Rifle, a Gas Vent 3 already mounted, Lany had to restrain herself from reactivating her wireless connections and immediately reaching out with her Smartlink. Instead, she quickly pulled the cable running to her Predator and placed it in the port of the Raiden, feeling the weapon come to life in her hands.
"The smuggler owed me a favor, so I had him send it "Rush Delivery"." Jan said with a smile, "Its already sighted, configured, and ready to go; and there is a tac vest loaded with ammo in the mag."
"She's beautiful." Lany said with the glow and serenity of a mother holding a newborn.
Jan gave Lany a slightly impatient look, "I hate to break up the moment, but we have work to do. And I was hoping we wouldn't actually need that."
Lany powered the Raiden down, setting it in the bag and returning the cable to her Predator. She then quickly slipped into the tac vest, and pulled her coveralls back over it. Ready to move, she leapt through the air into Jan's unsuspecting arms, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed at the volume of a whisper, giving Jan a quick peck on the cheek before hopping down.
Nikki, August 22, 2075, 8:31 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Damn, double damn...he had to move into another room. Well, can't just walk away. Nikki muses to herself. Checking her AR feed on the recent activity outside, Glad the Troll seems down....I'd rather not have to deal with him anyway...Let's see if this guy is really hiding, or just waiting to ambush me...
Moving forward quietly, Nikki checks her ammo count, quickly estimating when she'll need to reload. With her back to the wall, she inches towards the other room...
Pausing, Nikki decides to bluff. Taking a couple loose bullets out of her spare ammo bag, she tosses them gently to mimic stumbling footfalls, as if I'd ever trip on the job...let's see if this guy takes the bait...
Damn, double damn...he had to move into another room. Well, can't just walk away. Nikki muses to herself. Checking her AR feed on the recent activity outside, Glad the Troll seems down....I'd rather not have to deal with him anyway...Let's see if this guy is really hiding, or just waiting to ambush me...
Moving forward quietly, Nikki checks her ammo count, quickly estimating when she'll need to reload. With her back to the wall, she inches towards the other room...
Pausing, Nikki decides to bluff. Taking a couple loose bullets out of her spare ammo bag, she tosses them gently to mimic stumbling footfalls, as if I'd ever trip on the job...let's see if this guy takes the bait...
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle]
@Nikki:
The rounds bounce and tinkle and the idiot takes the bait...that is he tosses a grenade out of the room which begins to hiss a white smoke that you may or may not want to breath in...
@Al:
The round penetrates the fuel tank and although there isn't a satisfying explosion you do see the beginnings of a growing puddle under the rear axles and you are as certain as you can be that the Rover isn't going to be high tailing it any time soon! Then something more alarming happens and from slots on what you'd taken to being a roof extension (trolls being somewhat taller than your average car manufacturer allows for...) rolls of gel pack ablative armour deploy to cover both vehicles...
@Overdrive:
As you extend your arm the Lynx spits a near silent tirade of death down range at the unfortunate troll who was beginning to gather his wits moments before the high velocity rounds tore through the shield and the armoured form behind...
@Jan:
Well that was unexpected, at least Lany seems to be back to a more sober frame of mind now she's got over the excitement of her new toy...
@Lany:
As you search the link for signs of your targets you realise that first names don't give you much to go on and there are no associated pics that you might expect from your normally giddy teenager's link. Suddenly the AR scenes that you've more or less drowned out disappear to be replaced by a muted red hue
<<Warning. Alert Level 1, please return to your muster stations. Clerics report to Echo 7...>>
The game's afoot...!
@Nikki:
The rounds bounce and tinkle and the idiot takes the bait...that is he tosses a grenade out of the room which begins to hiss a white smoke that you may or may not want to breath in...
@Al:
The round penetrates the fuel tank and although there isn't a satisfying explosion you do see the beginnings of a growing puddle under the rear axles and you are as certain as you can be that the Rover isn't going to be high tailing it any time soon! Then something more alarming happens and from slots on what you'd taken to being a roof extension (trolls being somewhat taller than your average car manufacturer allows for...) rolls of gel pack ablative armour deploy to cover both vehicles...
@Overdrive:
As you extend your arm the Lynx spits a near silent tirade of death down range at the unfortunate troll who was beginning to gather his wits moments before the high velocity rounds tore through the shield and the armoured form behind...
@Jan:
Well that was unexpected, at least Lany seems to be back to a more sober frame of mind now she's got over the excitement of her new toy...
@Lany:
As you search the link for signs of your targets you realise that first names don't give you much to go on and there are no associated pics that you might expect from your normally giddy teenager's link. Suddenly the AR scenes that you've more or less drowned out disappear to be replaced by a muted red hue
<<Warning. Alert Level 1, please return to your muster stations. Clerics report to Echo 7...>>
The game's afoot...!
[Al, Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:30PM, trog kill zone, Seattle]
Al smiled as Overdrive's Lynx finally chimed in, hammering the pesky troll until the little man saw bits of fine red mist spritz up from behind the Range Rover. Didn't matter how much of a threat the beast still was, they just had to keep up the pressure on these guys to draw as many resources as they could away from Peaches and the inside team.
He chuckled as the two black vehicles sprouted armor like some sort of prehistoric ankylosaurs. These bastards had more tricks lined up than a five-nuyen whore the night after payday. Just like those ancient reptiles, though, the underbelly was always vulnerable. He topped off his magazine with explosive rounds and sighted in on the widening pool of gasoline.
Al smiled as Overdrive's Lynx finally chimed in, hammering the pesky troll until the little man saw bits of fine red mist spritz up from behind the Range Rover. Didn't matter how much of a threat the beast still was, they just had to keep up the pressure on these guys to draw as many resources as they could away from Peaches and the inside team.
He chuckled as the two black vehicles sprouted armor like some sort of prehistoric ankylosaurs. These bastards had more tricks lined up than a five-nuyen whore the night after payday. Just like those ancient reptiles, though, the underbelly was always vulnerable. He topped off his magazine with explosive rounds and sighted in on the widening pool of gasoline.
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:30PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle]
LeFey reached for the camera controls. @Nyx [LeFey]: Standby. A glowing circle appears in Nyx's field of vision, showing her what the devices are seeing.
She then turned her attention back to the host proper. For now, it seemed she and the sprite were the sole occupants. Behind the mask, she frowned. Then again, it was likely the spider had thought the same while she and her friend were hovering just beyond his sight. LeFey raised her hand, and a curtain of Resonance follows, settling over both her and the sprite. It takes on the color of the host, rendering them almost invisible.
For now, her job was to keep things running in the matrix. But it wouldn't do to sit idle. LeFey begins poring over the contents of the host for some clue to the true purpose of the facility. On a second display, she monitors the firefight outside.
LeFey reached for the camera controls. @Nyx [LeFey]: Standby. A glowing circle appears in Nyx's field of vision, showing her what the devices are seeing.
She then turned her attention back to the host proper. For now, it seemed she and the sprite were the sole occupants. Behind the mask, she frowned. Then again, it was likely the spider had thought the same while she and her friend were hovering just beyond his sight. LeFey raised her hand, and a curtain of Resonance follows, settling over both her and the sprite. It takes on the color of the host, rendering them almost invisible.
For now, her job was to keep things running in the matrix. But it wouldn't do to sit idle. LeFey begins poring over the contents of the host for some clue to the true purpose of the facility. On a second display, she monitors the firefight outside.
Jan
August 22, 2075, 8:31 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
"Fok" Jan cursed, responding to Lany's warning about the alarm. "I don't think that alarm is for us, but we're going to have to act even faster than I thought."
Jan holstered his MP and drew his AK up into his shoulder, edging back out of the door. "Cover the mezzanine" he instructed Lany as he left.
They'll be leaving any second Jan though as he crouched on one knee and sighted the door they'd come past.
August 22, 2075, 8:31 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
"Fok" Jan cursed, responding to Lany's warning about the alarm. "I don't think that alarm is for us, but we're going to have to act even faster than I thought."
Jan holstered his MP and drew his AK up into his shoulder, edging back out of the door. "Cover the mezzanine" he instructed Lany as he left.
They'll be leaving any second Jan though as he crouched on one knee and sighted the door they'd come past.
Lany Argyle, August 22, 2075, 8:31 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Seeing the red hue replace the normal AR features inside the basement, Lany nodded in response to Jan's request, "I'm on it, following your lead." Noticing Jan had readied his AK, she drew her Raiden back out of the bag, hooked up her Smartlink cable, and loaded it with a mag of Stick & Shock.
Lany put a hand on Jan's shoulder before he went out, saying "I will contact LeFey to try and find out where the alarm was triggered." She then sent her a comm via her microtransceiver.
<<@LeFey[Pandora]: "An alarm has been triggered down here; NOT my fault. Can you find out where it originated?">>
Seeing the red hue replace the normal AR features inside the basement, Lany nodded in response to Jan's request, "I'm on it, following your lead." Noticing Jan had readied his AK, she drew her Raiden back out of the bag, hooked up her Smartlink cable, and loaded it with a mag of Stick & Shock.
Lany put a hand on Jan's shoulder before he went out, saying "I will contact LeFey to try and find out where the alarm was triggered." She then sent her a comm via her microtransceiver.
<<@LeFey[Pandora]: "An alarm has been triggered down here; NOT my fault. Can you find out where it originated?">>
Nikki, August 22, 2075, 8:31 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
@Al and Overdrive - This guy runs into another room and is now tossing a grenade at me. I'm out of here and really want to just take the damn building down now....
Nikki rushes from the security building, hoping she hasn't taken any of the crap into her lungs. Finding cover among some nearby trees, she calms herself down and begins to think. Either that was just a smoke grenade, or he's got some breathing aparatus - either way, he has to come out eventually. If I can't wait for that, then maybe we'll actually get to level the box, yeah that's not smart, but fun to think about anyway. Let's be rational now...What resources could he have that make a difference? If I took out the decker, and he's just muscle, then he's boxed in and useless except for keeping eyes on this part of the grounds. I wonder if there is another way out of the security building...
continuing to Al and Overdrive, Not sure what this guy has on his mind. I think he's stuck unless someone helps him out. I'm going to sneak around the security building to see if he found a way out.
Moving quickly, Nikki rushes around the building, staying in the trees as much as possible, looking for a back door or open window. If she sees him, she's taking a shot immediately.
Noticing the alarm has gone off in the building, @inside team - What's going on in there? Do you need help?
@Al and Overdrive - This guy runs into another room and is now tossing a grenade at me. I'm out of here and really want to just take the damn building down now....
Nikki rushes from the security building, hoping she hasn't taken any of the crap into her lungs. Finding cover among some nearby trees, she calms herself down and begins to think. Either that was just a smoke grenade, or he's got some breathing aparatus - either way, he has to come out eventually. If I can't wait for that, then maybe we'll actually get to level the box, yeah that's not smart, but fun to think about anyway. Let's be rational now...What resources could he have that make a difference? If I took out the decker, and he's just muscle, then he's boxed in and useless except for keeping eyes on this part of the grounds. I wonder if there is another way out of the security building...
continuing to Al and Overdrive, Not sure what this guy has on his mind. I think he's stuck unless someone helps him out. I'm going to sneak around the security building to see if he found a way out.
Moving quickly, Nikki rushes around the building, staying in the trees as much as possible, looking for a back door or open window. If she sees him, she's taking a shot immediately.
Noticing the alarm has gone off in the building, @inside team - What's going on in there? Do you need help?
[Al, Thursday August 22nd, 2075; 8:31PM, trog kill zone, Seattle]
Al muttered into the mic as he lined up his shot: "If'n ya got 'im treed, Mother, then best scalp 'im, or we's gon' have a wild card on our six when we go in. Reckon the kid an' I got they main rear el'ment pinned down purty good up our way. An' if'n ya ain't noticed, things done already got loud out here, so no need ta hold back onna sumbitch. Sim Legend out."
Al muttered into the mic as he lined up his shot: "If'n ya got 'im treed, Mother, then best scalp 'im, or we's gon' have a wild card on our six when we go in. Reckon the kid an' I got they main rear el'ment pinned down purty good up our way. An' if'n ya ain't noticed, things done already got loud out here, so no need ta hold back onna sumbitch. Sim Legend out."
Nikki, August 22, 2075, 8:31 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
Hearing a green light for grenades, Nikki backtracks to the front of the security office and fires a double-volley of flash-bang grenades inside. Toss a grenade at me will you...here are two for you ASSHOLE! Nikki knows she needs to calm down some more...
Running quickly around the back of the building, Nikki hopes the guy hasn't taken advantage her delay to escape out the back.
Guys, if you see anyone running around loose, let me know. I'm hoping these grenades are going to put him out, but I don't know if he escaped yet. Will let you know soon.
Hearing a green light for grenades, Nikki backtracks to the front of the security office and fires a double-volley of flash-bang grenades inside. Toss a grenade at me will you...here are two for you ASSHOLE! Nikki knows she needs to calm down some more...
Running quickly around the back of the building, Nikki hopes the guy hasn't taken advantage her delay to escape out the back.
Guys, if you see anyone running around loose, let me know. I'm hoping these grenades are going to put him out, but I don't know if he escaped yet. Will let you know soon.
Jan
August 22, 2075, 8:31 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
There was a look of shock on the Doctor's face as he left the therapy room to be met by the barrel end of an assault rifle.
"Aweh, my bru" Jan said quietly with a smile. The Doctor stopped dead in his tracks. "This is how it's gonna work baas; These two laaitie are gonna go back inside and you, bru, you are going to take us to the muster hall". He gave that a moment to sink in.
"Now I would like to point out that we aren't killing people, not where we can help it. That maybe can't be said for those others coming this way but this facility does seems very popular today." He stood there waiting while the Doctor made, maybe, the final decision of his life. That was up to him.
August 22, 2075, 8:31 PM, Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle
There was a look of shock on the Doctor's face as he left the therapy room to be met by the barrel end of an assault rifle.
"Aweh, my bru" Jan said quietly with a smile. The Doctor stopped dead in his tracks. "This is how it's gonna work baas; These two laaitie are gonna go back inside and you, bru, you are going to take us to the muster hall". He gave that a moment to sink in.
"Now I would like to point out that we aren't killing people, not where we can help it. That maybe can't be said for those others coming this way but this facility does seems very popular today." He stood there waiting while the Doctor made, maybe, the final decision of his life. That was up to him.
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; Sound Mental Health Facility, Kilarney Way, Bellevue, Seattle]
@Al:
You can feel the wash of heat even at thirty meters as your round detonates the spreading pool of iridescent fuel. The glass of the therapy building crazes as the blast impacts and around the car park a number of car alarms begin their insistent howl. Given the neighbourhood that kind of thing is going to draw security services like a devil rat to road kill. It is safe to assume that at least one of the Rovers is out of commission and given that there is flaming debris in the tyres of the second there's a good chance you've done some damage to it despite the extra protection they are sporting.
Your good mood is soured as you realise that the whickering sound isn't from the debris raining down on your position but is the result of silenced autofire...judging by the angle it's not coming from the runners but you aren't given much more time to ruminate as you hurl yourself towards the ground out of the withering hail...
@Overdrive:
Bits of flaming gel pack pitter patter down on your skin but otherwise you are unharmed by the explosion. Your instruments are alight however as the hovering skimmers, moving in an erratic pattern consistent with an evasion autosoft, ping the area with active ultrasound, and probably a host of other sensor...
@Nikki:
From the far side of the security building you see the dull flash and hear the roar whilst the AR display provides a much more graphic view of the car park as seen from Overdrive's drone feeds. Your flashbangs are a small addition to the noise levels out here, contained as they are by the structure you detonated them inside. There are other exits you can see from this side but there is no evidence that your quarry has high tailed it out before getting slammed about by the huge concussive force of two flashbangs...
@Jan:
The doctor takes a moment to recover his wits and then cautiously raises his hands away from his body to show that he is unarmed
"You want to go to a muster station? Very well, if you will follow me I will not attempt to stop you. Cassie, James, it would be wise of you to wait here for the Clerics..."
He turns warily away from you and gestures towards the stairs down that your first victim came up a couple of minutes ago. Below you in the atrium you can hear the sound of ordered movement as the inmates respond to their instructions. Behind you where the mezzanine curves back towards the far end of this hall another door opens and a group of six white clad people emerge...
@Lany:
The AR is getting on your nerves...it's far too bloody calm despite the apparent threat bearing down above, not least now that you can see the AR feed of the new car parking arrangements. Still, you have your new toy and it's amazing what carry several kilos of high tech death dealing can do to boost a girl's confidence!
@LeFey:
Via Lany's connection with the AR feeds somewhere below you, you can now sense the host that was previously masked by the wifi shielding. It presumably has the option of connecting to the mesh when it needs to but it is the inadvertent access that you need now to start to work your magic on its secrets...now you just need to get a mark...
@Al:
You can feel the wash of heat even at thirty meters as your round detonates the spreading pool of iridescent fuel. The glass of the therapy building crazes as the blast impacts and around the car park a number of car alarms begin their insistent howl. Given the neighbourhood that kind of thing is going to draw security services like a devil rat to road kill. It is safe to assume that at least one of the Rovers is out of commission and given that there is flaming debris in the tyres of the second there's a good chance you've done some damage to it despite the extra protection they are sporting.
Your good mood is soured as you realise that the whickering sound isn't from the debris raining down on your position but is the result of silenced autofire...judging by the angle it's not coming from the runners but you aren't given much more time to ruminate as you hurl yourself towards the ground out of the withering hail...
@Overdrive:
Bits of flaming gel pack pitter patter down on your skin but otherwise you are unharmed by the explosion. Your instruments are alight however as the hovering skimmers, moving in an erratic pattern consistent with an evasion autosoft, ping the area with active ultrasound, and probably a host of other sensor...
@Nikki:
From the far side of the security building you see the dull flash and hear the roar whilst the AR display provides a much more graphic view of the car park as seen from Overdrive's drone feeds. Your flashbangs are a small addition to the noise levels out here, contained as they are by the structure you detonated them inside. There are other exits you can see from this side but there is no evidence that your quarry has high tailed it out before getting slammed about by the huge concussive force of two flashbangs...
@Jan:
The doctor takes a moment to recover his wits and then cautiously raises his hands away from his body to show that he is unarmed
"You want to go to a muster station? Very well, if you will follow me I will not attempt to stop you. Cassie, James, it would be wise of you to wait here for the Clerics..."
He turns warily away from you and gestures towards the stairs down that your first victim came up a couple of minutes ago. Below you in the atrium you can hear the sound of ordered movement as the inmates respond to their instructions. Behind you where the mezzanine curves back towards the far end of this hall another door opens and a group of six white clad people emerge...
@Lany:
The AR is getting on your nerves...it's far too bloody calm despite the apparent threat bearing down above, not least now that you can see the AR feed of the new car parking arrangements. Still, you have your new toy and it's amazing what carry several kilos of high tech death dealing can do to boost a girl's confidence!
@LeFey:
Via Lany's connection with the AR feeds somewhere below you, you can now sense the host that was previously masked by the wifi shielding. It presumably has the option of connecting to the mesh when it needs to but it is the inadvertent access that you need now to start to work your magic on its secrets...now you just need to get a mark...
[Thursday August 22nd, 2075; Unknown matrix node, Seattle]
“Silk…?” Aria’s small hand wormed its way into Silk’s, the voice pitched perfectly to tug at the heartstrings, and Silk frowned down at the diminutive persona “Yes?”
“I’ve just had a very interesting call, do you want me to tell you about it?”
“No games now Aria, if it wasn’t important you wouldn’t have brought it up. Look at that...” she indicated the feed coming from their runners "it's turning into a war zone down there in the middle of Bellevue!"
“A contact of mine has told me there is an attack on a NeoNet facility in Seattle, one that happens to be located under a mental health institution…”
“Oh…?”
“Yes! She’d like me to rustle up some support to defend it”
"Rabbit holes and looking glasses! We're hired to insert someone into a facility rather than extract a target, now were going to get paid to protect the facility we're attacking? It would seem we have runners on hand who are already doing just that! Summer, you didn't see any of this?"
"It's not that precise...I...oh no, it's Him, Winter...I can feel him there..."
“Silk…?” Aria’s small hand wormed its way into Silk’s, the voice pitched perfectly to tug at the heartstrings, and Silk frowned down at the diminutive persona “Yes?”
“I’ve just had a very interesting call, do you want me to tell you about it?”
“No games now Aria, if it wasn’t important you wouldn’t have brought it up. Look at that...” she indicated the feed coming from their runners "it's turning into a war zone down there in the middle of Bellevue!"
“A contact of mine has told me there is an attack on a NeoNet facility in Seattle, one that happens to be located under a mental health institution…”
“Oh…?”
“Yes! She’d like me to rustle up some support to defend it”
"Rabbit holes and looking glasses! We're hired to insert someone into a facility rather than extract a target, now were going to get paid to protect the facility we're attacking? It would seem we have runners on hand who are already doing just that! Summer, you didn't see any of this?"
"It's not that precise...I...oh no, it's Him, Winter...I can feel him there..."
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