"The name's Shrine he said. "I'm a close combat specialist and cansling spells too."

"I f I were in charge of security for that missile, I'd be damned sure I had some sort of tracking signal built int, somwehre integral to the thing, something that would be tough to take out" Shrine said. "If we do decide to try to walk out of there with the missile, we'd better have some way to jam or shield any sort of tracking decvices. Any of you tech types know how to tdo that? Could we just put the thing inside a metal box to disable any tracking devices?"

"Yeah, we can make a cage to keep it in that will keep it pretty quiet," Sif said. "Of course it depends on what frequency they are using and how powerful it is, but an attenuation of 99% isn't a bad estimate, if not better. I would suggest that option over a jammer because their signal will likely be stronger than any jammer we can get our hands on, and they can just follow the signal we are putting out to jam them. I can build a suitable Faraday cage once I get the plans for the missile or, if we need to, I can make one with just the basic dimensions we were given by Rakovic, but that could end up leading to minor difficulties. Sometimes the trackers are hard to disable electronics wise, but the power source for the tracker is more accessible; that's always a possibility too, but I'm sure the questions will be answered once we have plans."

"Instead of us going in after the rocket," Skee interjects, "why don't we let the rocket come out to us?"

That gets Wraith's attention, "How do you mean?"

Shadow appears perplexed. "Perhaps my English needs work, but I thought we were specifically told to get it before it left the compound. It would be easier, but I don't see how we can do that within the parameters of our asignment."

"Well... it's a rocket, isn't it?", Skee replies, "if we can get Sif in there to reprogram it, why not just wait for them to fire it and fly right to us? Have it ditch into the bay, where we're waiting with boats and the, uh... fairway cage?"

He looks to Sif apologetically before continuing, "all we gotta do is make sure they're going to fire it..." He pauses a moment, running his left hand across his spiked blonde scalp. An evil grin slowly spreads across his face.

"...or convince them they need to fire it."

Wraith looks doubtful. "Well, lets just focus on getting the needed data first. The weapon itself is a secondary target."

"Believe they do their firing at China Lake. And by the time they get it there, our time will be up." Niome commented.

Not noticing any other requests for information Sif got up to leave. "I'm going to head out and start accumulating that information you wanted. We've got two weeks and it shouldn't take any more than five or six days to do all the searches. Mind if I make a call real quick?" She asks Wraith.

(OOC, is your phone vidlinked? I assume it is but Sif has a thing about seeing with whom she talks).

"Oh well," Skee shrugs, "it was just a thought."

"So... while Sif's flipping 'trix, how about we case the joint? You know... watch who's coming and going, get a read on the guards.... that sort of thing?"

"I'd be interested in doing that" Shrine replies. "I'd like to get a look at what magical defenses they have."

Skee nods. "Same here. How about 3 shifts, 8 hours each. Shrine and me make for 2.... who's up for the third?"

"I will watch as well."

"Sure. Count me in."

"Ok", Skee says, "I'll take tonight, from midnight to 08:00. Niome, you and Wraith take it from there to 16:00. There's bound to be more activity during the day - an extra set of eyes'll come in handy. Shrine - you take it from there." He turns to Shadow before continuing. "I'd like to get your opinion of the site as well. How about you and me take over for Shrine at midnight tomorrow?"

"Our HQ should be where ever Sif is. Anything interesting happens, we check in with HQ. Give her your numbers and stay close to your cells; you never know when opportunity's gonna knock." With that, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cell phone. The device chirps cheerily as he jabs a key, sending the LTG number through the aether to Sif's deck.

"In the mean time I'll check in with a few contacts and see if any of them can dig up some details for me."

Wraith exchanges numbers with everyone and waits for everyone to take their leave before locking the place up and getting ready to get some dirty work done.

"Not a problem. I'll meet you there a little before midnight. Until then I'll keep in touch with whoever needs me."

Grabbing a handy sheet of paper Shadow copies down the numbers available and leaves the number of his cell.

Sif uploads all of the data she is given onto her deck. She snaps the case shut and carries it under one arm. "My home isn't really the kind of place you'd want to set up a base of operations," she tells Skee, "too small and open." Not waiting for a response, she headed out the door and got on her Blitzen and drove off.

The ride home was quite long due to the indirect route Sif took to throw off any tails. She parks the bike near her Bellevue apartment and pulls the key out of the ignition. Once inside the spacious apartment she take few minutes to see the latest news on the vid before breaking her deck and and placing on the desk near the large, tinted window.

Sif connected herself to the deck and began the operations to connect to the NewsNet SatNet. Once the logon was complete the world dissolved around her and reformed as a bland matrix setting. Anxious to get underway she logged onto the Seattle RTG and began searching for the information she was looking for.

2230 Monday, 12 March 2063, Seattle, UCAS

The night air is heavy with moisture, gray clouds reflecting the sodium orange light from the city's streets. The Ares Integrated Solutions R&D Facility glitters beneath its own security lamps, halogen floods keeping the area at a constant dusk illumination. Armored lexan bubbles conceal security cameras which cover the three main entrances to the building, as well as the four emergency exits. At this late hour, the parking lot is nearly empty, with only a couple of Toyota sedans parked behind the double fenceline separating the compound from the rest of the corporate park.

Skee's landing on the tenament rooftop was soft and quiet. Working quickly under the shadow cloak provided by his City spirit servant, he finds a discrete hiding spot from which to monitor the Ares compound. Placing the 6-pack of Brimstone Stout down (it was gonna be one of them nights he'd mused), he pulls a pair of polycarbonate mirrorshades from his jacket pocket and puts them on. With a tap on the left temple, the night streets suddenly appear illuminated in eerie green light. Gotta thank Raz for these, he thinks as he pops the tab on his beer can. He takes a sip as he turns to focus on the compound.

The only entrance through the double fenceline is via a controlled access point on the southern perimeter of the compound. A small guardhouse sits in between the incoming and outgoing driveways. Vehicles are processed through one at a time, the outer gate closing behind them while the inner gate opening only once the occupants' ID has been verified by the guards. A four person detail mans the guardhouse at all times. Halogen arc floodlights keep the area lit to daylight level constantly, and both incoming and outgoing lanes are covered by security cameras. Also, both lanes of traffic have pneumatic anti-ram barriers installed.

The rooftop of the AIS building appears to be under camera surveillance as well. Eight forced air intakes mounted in two double lines are the only features of the roof. Each is seventy five cm in diameter, extending fifty cm from the surface of the roof. In the northwest corner is a roof access hatch, which appears to be secured from the inside. Apart from the contingent in the guardhouse, there are no signs of an external security patrol.

Hours pass as Sif delves through the sea of digital information underpinning the Sixth World. Multiple screens of data scroll in front of her, digital assistants, expert programs, and frames scanning through dozens of databases in response to her queries.

Rakovic appears to be a recent addition to the Seattle shadows, with only a few references to him in recent months. No one has yet nailed down a corporate affiliation, but there is little doubt that he's someone's company man. As near as you can tell, he deals professionally with those that he employs.

Wraith is a common streetname as well, although you get a couple of interesting hits. About three years ago, an elven rigger by the name of Wraith tore up the shadows by pulling a dozen or so vicious jobs against both corporate and criminal entities. He disappeared shortly afterward, although rumors persist that he wasn't killed but rather changed his identity and went south to Cal Free. The Wraith you're looking for, though, is a recent addition to Seattle's list of less than legal talent. He's rumored to have corporate training in espionage and industrial sabotage, but no one has definitive proof one way or another.

The search on Skee returns no information.

Niome apparently is too common of a streetname to effectively research the particular one that you are working with.

By the time the information has been collected and collated, the sun has long since risen. The bells of the Cathedral of St. Jude are just ringing out the noon hour.

Sif felt herself slowing down some, and looking at the chronometer in her field of vision she could see that it was already morning. "Ah well, I've got some info," she thought to herself, "I'll just head over and get the Ares server ready for later."

Bringing up the address for the Ares server Rakovic had told her the disappearing SAN lived in, her icon glided across the digital landscape toward that destination. She checked to make sure her deck was in full masking mode and began slicing code to sleaze past the safeguards. Once inside she rewrote a few bits of data to tell the server that she belonged there and logged out to get some sleep.

Noting the physical security characteristics of the AIS building, Skee shifts his vision into the Astral plane and takes another look.

Mana energy surges around Skee as he opens himself to the greater power of the astral plane. The AIS facility appears as a muted ghost of its physical self. No spirits or wards are visible around the structure.

Nice, clean setup, Skee thinks to himself. Despite their reputation as a heavy-hitter in the arms business, the AIS building's security appeared to be exceptionally understated. No cannon turrets lining the rooftops; no wired hellhounds with tactical nukes strapped to their backs wandering the compound. Even the magical security seemed non-existent.

Of course, you didn't need to tell a master illusionist like Skee that appearances are often deceiving.

The Fox shaman ponders the facility's meager defenses as he waits out the night, and the arrival of the next shift.

Durring the course of events, Wraith puts a call out to Fink, his Snitch contact.

"Hey buddy, I need you to put your ear to the street for me. See if you can dig up any dirt on employees at the Ares Integrated Solutions R&D Facility. A ton extra if you can get me something on security."

"Yeah, sure man, I'll see what I can find out."

The Ares public matrix host is a vast and welcoming place, a virtual showfloor for all of the corporation's many products. Drifting amidst the brightly lit displays are numerous helpful expert programs, each dressed as one of their more successful simflick stars.

Sif slips through the host in silence, uninterested in the latest offerings from the corp. Her destination lies beyond. Responding to her interrogations, the host provides the location of the access to the corporate PLTG. The entrance is guarded by a squad of icons that look like UCAS Marines in full urban combat gear. Sif's icon flickers momentarily, her usual ghostly appearance shifting to the utilities of a Marine Staff Sargeant. She flashes an ID at the door, and the portal opens for her. Inside is a squad bay full of icons, kitted out as if preparing for a major battle. All of them turn to look at Sif as she enters.

The morning dawns bright and cold, with a biting wind blowing off the sound. The bells of the Cathedral of St. Jude announce the eight o'clock hour with crisp, distant tones. A pair of Ares Citymasters arrive at the front gate, carrying the next guard shift. Passing through the security checkpoint, they disappear into the loading bay. Ten minutes later they depart, muscling their way into the morning rush hour. AIS staff begins to arrive at the same time, the influx of cars peaking about 0900 before tapering off. As the team watches, something else becomes apparent. You are not the only ones surveiling this building.

Wraith turns to Niome, "You catch that other car casing the place? Lets check it out."

"Sounds like a plan...too much of a coincidence for someone to be casing the place while there's an experimental missle in residence..."

"Exactly. Switch to second radio freq and go in full stealth. You come in on the passenger side and I'll take the drivers."

With that, Wraith slips away from his vantage point and creeps his way towards the car.

Niome only nodded and made the change before silently leaving her perch to creep around to the other side of the car.

The vehicle is parked by the curb with three other cars in front and four behind. As you approach, you realize that the engine is still on and idling, but the tinted windows prevent you from seeing if anyone is inside.

Wraith moves around to the back of the car, neals down and picks something out of one of his many coat pockets. Quietly, he reaches under and bumper and attaches one of his AOD tracking signals.

Transduced over the comm, "Lets go."

"Who's bright idea was tinted windows, anyways?" Niome transduced back as she moved to follow Wraith.

Once back at their viewing spot, Wraith says, "Want me to make a call and see if I can snag a Laser Mic?"

"That would help. Of course, that's assuming we get it before they make their move..."

"Right."

Wraith puts a call out to Zoe.

"Hey Zoe, its Wraith. Can you get a line on a laser mic, asap for me?"

"Give me twelve hours and I'll have something available for you."

"Just let me know where to meet ya."

Hanging up, he says to Zoe, "I'll have one in 12 hours. I'm gunna call up the team and let them know the situation."

Wraith then opens up multiple comm links, letting the other members of the team know whats going on.

"Beat-up Americar, tinted windows... got it," Skee says, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Want me to zoom over and take an astral look-see?" he asks groggily.

"Sure, just be careful not to spook them."

Skee chuckles. "Null persp. Be there in a tick." He hangs up the phone and takes a deep breath. His body sinks back into bed as his astral form zips out of the room and speeds across town. Within seconds, his astral form is hovering next to Wraith.

"Boo!" he says, manifesting his grinning face in front of Wraith. Giving the mundanes a moment to adjust to his sudden appearance, he asks them where exactly the car is.

"Cool... I'll check it for mojo, see what they've got in the trunk. Back in a flash"

The greater nature of the manasphere surrounds Skee as he observes the indicated vehicle. The sharpley defined gray mass appears inert, unresponsive even when he peers inside the trunk. The only sound is the purring idle of its electric engine.

Skee pokes his head through the back seat of the Americar cautiously.

The vehicle is empty.

"Huh... It's empty," Skee says, reappearing before Wraith and Niome. "Maybe it's rigged?"

Off in the distance, you hear the bells of the cathedral of St. Jude. It's now 1300.