Still speaking with Johnny, "Right now works well for me, but I understand if it takes longer. If you could just check around and give me a call back in a few hours that would be great. I should be at my apartment, feel free to drop it off or just give me a ring and I will come and pick it up. I will send the cred wire transfer a few hours after I check out the bag, you know I am good for it."
As he is talking the large wagon taxi pulls up gingerly. "I need to go, my ride is hear" (click)
Opening the rear wagon door the troll sits down and buckles in. "37 Odin Drive...please." The taxi driver does not say a word and just drives him to his requested drop point.
When there he slides his cred stick, the one he allocates funds to for food and taxi's, "Thanks for the ride"
After the cab drives away, he walks a few blocks to his apartment and punches the gate code. When inside, he strips down to his boxers with the glow in the dark "Yes" written on them and turns on the trid. He hops on this troll size cross trainer and starts pushing himself. Something about the elf chick with the big gun and an even bigger attitude got to him, wonder what she thinks about trolls.
Full Version: IC: Iberian Impasse
Chris awakes to the first few notes of the Holiday-Hilton jingle. He goes to the toilet, takes a very welcome shower, and towels off – enjoying the way the towel stimulates the nerves in his skin. While his body is relishing the clean, tingling sensation he returns to the main room and, naked, does a series of Tai Chi forms to synchronize body, mind and spirit.
He notices the message icon on the telecom is flashing – only a client satisfaction survey – he defers it and notes the time is 7:17. He unpacks the duffle, changing into the new clothes, transferring the two credsticks from yesterday’s clothes into the right pocket of the new. The other six credsticks from the duffle go into the left pocket. He activates the cell phones and loads the new numbers into each of them, then turns them off.
Unpacking the tools and laying them out on the desk he prepares to upgrade the bug sniffer. He is done by 8:20. He packs everything up and exits the room; taking the lift down to the lobby.
Introducing himself as Mr. Anderson he asks about the conference room and is shown to the meeting hall. He is greeted by Steven, a staff Mage, who has finished checking the wards and now is just waiting. Steven informs Chris that Donald, the ETech, is sweeping the room.
Donald is indeed sweeping the room; Chris eyes the sniffer Donald is using – obviously a newer and more sophisticated model – and quietly observes.
The room feels spacious and the conference table is cleverly designed to allow several sections to be raised, allowing clearance underneath for troll-sized chairs – one of which is sitting there.
Smiling in satisfaction Chris takes a seat at the AVT control and pulls up the waiting client survey, giving the hotel ‘excellent’ ratings and making a very favorable comment on Leon’s commitment to customer service.
He notices the message icon on the telecom is flashing – only a client satisfaction survey – he defers it and notes the time is 7:17. He unpacks the duffle, changing into the new clothes, transferring the two credsticks from yesterday’s clothes into the right pocket of the new. The other six credsticks from the duffle go into the left pocket. He activates the cell phones and loads the new numbers into each of them, then turns them off.
Unpacking the tools and laying them out on the desk he prepares to upgrade the bug sniffer. He is done by 8:20. He packs everything up and exits the room; taking the lift down to the lobby.
Introducing himself as Mr. Anderson he asks about the conference room and is shown to the meeting hall. He is greeted by Steven, a staff Mage, who has finished checking the wards and now is just waiting. Steven informs Chris that Donald, the ETech, is sweeping the room.
Donald is indeed sweeping the room; Chris eyes the sniffer Donald is using – obviously a newer and more sophisticated model – and quietly observes.
The room feels spacious and the conference table is cleverly designed to allow several sections to be raised, allowing clearance underneath for troll-sized chairs – one of which is sitting there.
Smiling in satisfaction Chris takes a seat at the AVT control and pulls up the waiting client survey, giving the hotel ‘excellent’ ratings and making a very favorable comment on Leon’s commitment to customer service.
Eren was out of the meet and back at his apartment before he finally relaxed. Glad we made it out, amigo. Those gangers wouldn't have liked me, and I don't think I would have liked them much either.
He pondered his return to Spain, his temporary? return to his old life. The beautiful Spanish vistas, the friendly women, the best wine, the Guardia Civil constantly hunting him...
But there he mattered. Politicians feared him, his fellow Basque respected him, and the Guardia was far behind his tail. Here, I'm just a trigger finger, nothing but a deniable asset. Johnsons hand me the insult of calling me ese, the average revolutionary is a xenophobe, and there's no chance of dismantling any of the structure here. At least in Spain I only had to deal with eurocorps - in Seattle, it's an international racima cogida.
"I need out of here."
Just then, his phone beeped. Anderson party, 9 A.M. Eren quickly dressed for bed and set his alarm.
He pondered his return to Spain, his temporary? return to his old life. The beautiful Spanish vistas, the friendly women, the best wine, the Guardia Civil constantly hunting him...
But there he mattered. Politicians feared him, his fellow Basque respected him, and the Guardia was far behind his tail. Here, I'm just a trigger finger, nothing but a deniable asset. Johnsons hand me the insult of calling me ese, the average revolutionary is a xenophobe, and there's no chance of dismantling any of the structure here. At least in Spain I only had to deal with eurocorps - in Seattle, it's an international racima cogida.
"I need out of here."
Just then, his phone beeped. Anderson party, 9 A.M. Eren quickly dressed for bed and set his alarm.
She opened the door to the hotel, the change in pressure pushed air out of the carefully air conditioned building. Her ankle length long coat caught the breeze and spread out behind her along with errant strands of her jet black hair.
She had left her guns in her car as instructed, confident that she wouldn't need them in such a public place. She asked directions to the conference room, they were given along with a look of curiosity. It wasn't that the Hilton was for the rich only, but Raven looked like who she was, a college student playing at being a Shadowrunner. Beautiful, yes, but her clothes were off the shelf, jeans, boots, and a black pullover fit her snugly. Compared to the 3,000 nuyen suits everyone else around the lobby was wearing she might as well been dressed like a beggar.
She found the conference room easily enough. Spotting Chris she walked up beside him, "hoi chummer, good morning?"
She had left her guns in her car as instructed, confident that she wouldn't need them in such a public place. She asked directions to the conference room, they were given along with a look of curiosity. It wasn't that the Hilton was for the rich only, but Raven looked like who she was, a college student playing at being a Shadowrunner. Beautiful, yes, but her clothes were off the shelf, jeans, boots, and a black pullover fit her snugly. Compared to the 3,000 nuyen suits everyone else around the lobby was wearing she might as well been dressed like a beggar.
She found the conference room easily enough. Spotting Chris she walked up beside him, "hoi chummer, good morning?"
Rei stepped off his bike, having parked it in the hotel lot. He lifted the seat and threw a few odds and ends into the storage area, ditching his gear. He had come prepaired, taking a moment to adjust the tie on his Armanté "Executive Suite" Tux. The black lined coat he wore over didn't clash too much, black went with anything after all.
Making his way inside, the young assassin stepped into the meeting room and silently took a seat, giving a hello nod to everyone.
Making his way inside, the young assassin stepped into the meeting room and silently took a seat, giving a hello nod to everyone.
As the team filters in Chris greets them and invites them to help themselves to the buffet. He avoids discussing ‘business’ until all are assembled and the hotel security team gives the all-clear.
Raven stacked a plate of food in front of her. Mopstly carbs and proteins. She picked at it as she waited for everyone to find a seat. Finally her impatience won the better of her.
"So how are we getting to Europe?"
"So how are we getting to Europe?"
Chris looks around, it’s after 9:00 and he is unsure whether the other's tardiness is due to minor problems or if they had had second thoughts about the contract. He had felt there was something odd about the client. Well if the others are late; then they are late, and if they don’t show up; they don’t show up…
"We won’t be going to Europe – at least not until we know what skills are represented and what we lack. We need to carefully consider what approach works best for our group, what problems we could run into and how to overcome them, and who we are risking our necks for. We need to ask some questions and get some serious, realistic answers before we go running off to the target zone.
I realize that time is important, but if we end up dead our mission is just as much a failure as if we started too late.
I secured a 10,000
advance bonus for each of us. We have this lovely, secure meeting room where we can discuss our assets and liabilities without fear that our client or competition can spy on us. If our competition procures the merchandise before we do we’ll just have to steal it back, but I don’t think that three hours developing a plan and a backup are going to seriously hurt our chances."
Chris pauses for a moment, trying to gauge the reactions of the assembled group, before continuing:
"I don’t know any of you, and I have no reason to trust any of you, but I need the job. By the same token, none of you know me or have any reason to trust me, but I suspect that you need the job also.
I am a spy. I use impersonation to infiltrate a target and gather intelligence or spread misinformation. I am able to mimic voices and faces well enough to get past non-biometric security means. For the duration of this job you may call me Chris Anderson. I had a rather stimulating ride with this young lady last night, so perhaps she would be kind enough to introduce herself while we wait for the others?..."
"We won’t be going to Europe – at least not until we know what skills are represented and what we lack. We need to carefully consider what approach works best for our group, what problems we could run into and how to overcome them, and who we are risking our necks for. We need to ask some questions and get some serious, realistic answers before we go running off to the target zone.
I realize that time is important, but if we end up dead our mission is just as much a failure as if we started too late.
I secured a 10,000
advance bonus for each of us. We have this lovely, secure meeting room where we can discuss our assets and liabilities without fear that our client or competition can spy on us. If our competition procures the merchandise before we do we’ll just have to steal it back, but I don’t think that three hours developing a plan and a backup are going to seriously hurt our chances."Chris pauses for a moment, trying to gauge the reactions of the assembled group, before continuing:
"I don’t know any of you, and I have no reason to trust any of you, but I need the job. By the same token, none of you know me or have any reason to trust me, but I suspect that you need the job also.
I am a spy. I use impersonation to infiltrate a target and gather intelligence or spread misinformation. I am able to mimic voices and faces well enough to get past non-biometric security means. For the duration of this job you may call me Chris Anderson. I had a rather stimulating ride with this young lady last night, so perhaps she would be kind enough to introduce herself while we wait for the others?..."
"Thanks, names Raven, I'm a long Gun mostly, but I can handle short range stuff as well. I agree, we should definitely have a plan before we go."
"Yo soy Erensuge Chavez, Noche-que-Camina. Shadow who Walks. Erensuge means Dragon in English. You may call me Eren, Dragon or Noche, but I prefer Eren. Please pardon my English - once we get to Europe I will be more useful."
"I used to be Basque fighter, I have a few contacts in Spain of value. I use big bombs, big guns, small guns and my fists. I am at home in shadow, hence the name."
"I used to be Basque fighter, I have a few contacts in Spain of value. I use big bombs, big guns, small guns and my fists. I am at home in shadow, hence the name."
The small japanese man looks up from his seat. "I am an assassin."
It is said matter-of-factly, as if that should explain his skills.
It is said matter-of-factly, as if that should explain his skills.
“I see…” Says Chris with a smile and a bow; “but, what shall we call you?”
He smiles, finding the humor if forgetting that detail, "Rei Takai, but Rei will do."
"Very well. For the moment I’ll remain with what we have been told or can reasonably assume.
The large fellow who asked for our weapons last night is obviously our client or much closer to our client than the spokesman we met at the table. His inability to maintain the deception is likely due to inexperience, and his desire to deceive us is likely due to paranoia – thus the deception, the request to disarm, and the snipers.
He places a great deal of value on the items he wishes to acquire. Whether his story of how he came to possess and lose the items is true or not is unimportant – he wishes to possess them now. We should take care in the handling and transfer of the items. To be blunt; a bullet from a distance is cheaper than our agreed upon final payment.
Three items, in or around Gijon, Spain, are our target. The client did not specify a time-limit, however we can assume that quicker is better. Eren may have first-hand knowledge of the area that would be quite helpful. Our job is to procure these items and deliver them to a drop-point, after which we are to receive the balance of our payment. I negotiated an arrangement whereby we could receive partial payment for partial success, so the job isn’t an all-or-nothing affair.
Unless anyone else has something to add I think we need to decide if we are in or out." Chris removes the credsticks and datachip from his pocket, and lays them on the table; "If you are out, take one stick for your trouble and leave, perhaps things will be better next time. If you are in you are entitled to two credsticks – take them and we will discuss what’s on the chip. I’m sure it’s not necessary to point out that once we view the chip we know too much to bow out gracefully, and it will be in our client’s best interests to ensure our silence."
The large fellow who asked for our weapons last night is obviously our client or much closer to our client than the spokesman we met at the table. His inability to maintain the deception is likely due to inexperience, and his desire to deceive us is likely due to paranoia – thus the deception, the request to disarm, and the snipers.
He places a great deal of value on the items he wishes to acquire. Whether his story of how he came to possess and lose the items is true or not is unimportant – he wishes to possess them now. We should take care in the handling and transfer of the items. To be blunt; a bullet from a distance is cheaper than our agreed upon final payment.
Three items, in or around Gijon, Spain, are our target. The client did not specify a time-limit, however we can assume that quicker is better. Eren may have first-hand knowledge of the area that would be quite helpful. Our job is to procure these items and deliver them to a drop-point, after which we are to receive the balance of our payment. I negotiated an arrangement whereby we could receive partial payment for partial success, so the job isn’t an all-or-nothing affair.
Unless anyone else has something to add I think we need to decide if we are in or out." Chris removes the credsticks and datachip from his pocket, and lays them on the table; "If you are out, take one stick for your trouble and leave, perhaps things will be better next time. If you are in you are entitled to two credsticks – take them and we will discuss what’s on the chip. I’m sure it’s not necessary to point out that once we view the chip we know too much to bow out gracefully, and it will be in our client’s best interests to ensure our silence."
Rei reaches forward, takings two sticks, and leans back in his chair once more.
"I already took two so I'm in. I say we give the other two guys another ten minutes to show and then assume there out."
Eren took two sticks.
"I will contact my hermanos in Spain."
"I will contact my hermanos in Spain."
After no one comes in...
"So, whats the plan?"
"So, whats the plan?"
“Let’s see what fortune has favored us with…”
Chris inserts the chip into the AVT’s reader and waits expectantly.
Chris inserts the chip into the AVT’s reader and waits expectantly.
Sliding the chip Mr. Johnson provided into the reader pulls up four items on the screen. Each item is small in size. Three are marked as objectives, while fourth is labelled as the drop point.
In order, the links reveal:
Objective 1:
Gijon - The address is listed, as well as an apartment number. A key sequence is provided for the apartment lock. A sketch of a small black box is provided with the words "Pesado. ¡No ABRA!" written beside the sketch. <Translation: Heavy. DO NOT OPEN!>
Objective 2:
Madrid - An address is provided. A sketch of a crate (1x1x1 meter) is present. The crate itself is smaller than the dimensions listed, but the crate is surrounded by integrated scaffolding to aid in its transport, which extend it's profile slightly. Beneath, scrawled Spanish is "Cuidado...¡No ABRA!" <Translation: Caution...DO NOT OPEN!>
Objective 3:
Rather than an address, all that is provided are latitudinal and longtitudinal coordinates. A sketch of a long armored case is provided (0.5 x 1.5 x 0.5 meters) is present. Beneath, written in Spanish is "Frágil. ¡No ABRA!" <Translation: Fragile. DO NOT OPEN!>
Drop Point:
Barcelona - The address is provided and instructions to transfer the goods to the new owner, Vito Mercino.
In order, the links reveal:
Objective 1:
Gijon - The address is listed, as well as an apartment number. A key sequence is provided for the apartment lock. A sketch of a small black box is provided with the words "Pesado. ¡No ABRA!" written beside the sketch. <Translation: Heavy. DO NOT OPEN!>
Objective 2:
Madrid - An address is provided. A sketch of a crate (1x1x1 meter) is present. The crate itself is smaller than the dimensions listed, but the crate is surrounded by integrated scaffolding to aid in its transport, which extend it's profile slightly. Beneath, scrawled Spanish is "Cuidado...¡No ABRA!" <Translation: Caution...DO NOT OPEN!>
Objective 3:
Rather than an address, all that is provided are latitudinal and longtitudinal coordinates. A sketch of a long armored case is provided (0.5 x 1.5 x 0.5 meters) is present. Beneath, written in Spanish is "Frágil. ¡No ABRA!" <Translation: Fragile. DO NOT OPEN!>
Drop Point:
Barcelona - The address is provided and instructions to transfer the goods to the new owner, Vito Mercino.
Accustomed to very complete dossiers on his targets, Chris is surprised by the lack of details in the information.
“This information is sparse, however it gives us locations and descriptions – I suppose we can work from that.
We have to get to Europe – I propose flying into France, and from there rail and hired car surface transportation to confuse anyone trying to follow our movements. Do any of you have implants or equipment that might make it difficult to board an Air France flight?”
“This information is sparse, however it gives us locations and descriptions – I suppose we can work from that.
We have to get to Europe – I propose flying into France, and from there rail and hired car surface transportation to confuse anyone trying to follow our movements. Do any of you have implants or equipment that might make it difficult to board an Air France flight?”
"I might have trouble getting my guns through. There legal but I need a legal reason for taking them. I haven't checked the schedule yet so I don't know if there is a Biathlon going on in Spain in the next few weeks. If there is, it wont be a problem. If there isn't it could be."
"I do. Spurs. Anyone know a private rigger that could smuggle us in? Gijon is a smuggler's haven as it is. If we could find someone to get us to Gijon, I'm sure we could find someone else there that could get us out. The forest around there makes getting in and out difficult at best, but I understand there are ways..."
"I have head gear that will be a problem."
"Perhaps we should look at an illegal insertion into the country with fake ID's for being there. Anyone know any smugglers that do trans atlantic?"
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