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"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
- Thomas Alva Edison
Musica (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iC0YXspJRM)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/commlink.png)
There’s nothing so jarring as getting a call from a number that you don’t recognize. The stream of numerics could be anyone- a bill collector, a friend with a new burner, an enemy looking to pin you down.
You stare at the screen, and the odd hopping antelope, for a moment before asking. There’s a woman’s voice, and her image, a young black woman with piercings. She’s young- couldn’t be more than eighteen, with a good guess that she’s younger.
(http://blackgirllonghair.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/summer2010211-vi.jpg)
“Ag man, oi, bokkie, my name is Rastire, but my mates call me Springbok.” She pauses for a moment, watching you, as though that should be significant.
“Aweh, I heard you was a bergie who could use work, and I’m looking for protection for a few nights until I can push on ta’ Seattle.”
Seems that despite her youth and relatively odd accent, this is a business call. Well, not every young girl that calls can be trying to put herself through geisha school.
"If you at all interested, meet me 'ere. Befok? Aweh, and sooner would be betta' than later."
Okay, go ahead and post where you would be at 9pm in a friday. Feel free to make up whatever details you like, but I need to know where you are, and what arms/armor you're currently wearing. Default is your place, and default location is UCAS sector near the Aurora Warrens.
The location is a McHughs right near the border between the CAS sector and the PCC. Border crossings should be pretty open this time of night, it won't take long to get there.
EDIT: Fixed music link URL - Ingo
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"Goddamit Doc what have you gotten me into now?", his thought as he hung up the comm call. Leaving his apartment stoop heading to his bike. Putting the cigar back in his jacket as he was about to light. Fixing his helmet on his head as he selects to call one of his saved numbers.
"Hey, Joe not going to be in next couple of days tell Mark I am sorry and let Jodi know if you don't mind."
Hanging up the commlink and moving off to McHughs.
Kinsey was at home in CAS on his way to some freelance bouncer work.
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Sylvester finished switching his van from Fuel-Cell, into its ‘full electric’ standby mode. The heater didn’t work quite as well, and it would take forever for his electronics to recharge, but seeing as how his grid-guide account number contained letters from an unknown alphabet, and something that he could only describe as a character that looked like a cave-painting of a man hunting a buffalo with a spear, he couldn’t really complain. Not when the fuel prices at a mile up were more than his budget could handle. A hacked free grid-guide power hookup would keep him alive, if not comfortable, and with his current budget constraints, free and alive were about all he could manage.
His underpass of choice was located in the warrens beneath an unused PPC interchange. Well, mostly unused. The occasional smuggler or land train seemed to make its way through; but his single van with a low heat signature that wasn’t moving seemed to provide too little entertainment for the local law to chase and pay attention to.
Sylvester checked his watch. It was 2100 hours local time. Almost time to rub some more super-glue and disinfectants into the cuts on his arm. Devil rats were always more trouble than they were worth. And no health care meant that in addition to sewing up his own uniform, he had to treat his own wounds as well.
As his phone rings Sylvester takes a slow deep breath in an attempt to remove the overtures of fatigue from his voice before answering.
”Sly’s Devils, Paranormal Critter Relocation and Extermination, Sylvester speaking, How may I help you?”
he listens to the woman give her brief explination.
”Okay Ms. Rastire, an ASAP meeting at a local McHughs. I can be there in 15-20, is that acceptable? Just let me clarify that this is more along the lines of bodyguard work and less ‘Pixy relocation’ or the like? No, No; it’s fine. I do both. I just want to be prepared for what I’m getting into is all. Yes, Of course. I’ll be right there madam.”
Hanging up the phone Sylvester looks at his arm. It probably wasn’t infected anyways. Skipping the second round of disinfectants to go straight to super-gluing the cuts shut would save a bit of time. He did have an extra clean uniform ready to go; and he could patch the torn suit later. Hopefully the McHughs had some sort of coffee to go with their world renound security system. Didn’t they brag about their neuro-stun setup and on-site physical security? He was definitely going to need to go in with his gas-mask.
Sylvester looked over to his laser rifle charging in its rack.
Protective work. He was going to need more than a gas mask to do that.
Sylvester started the process to switch off-of the grid-guide and back over to the fuel cell. Driving on grid-guide in this area wasn’t going to get him anywhere.
…
Pulling on a new suit over the freshly glued wound hurt a little, but the movement seemed to get his blood flowing and some of the day’s fatigue faded away.
He needed a story. Pest elimination? Bribery? He didn’t have much in the way of liquid assets. There was that bottle of roach-killer he had in the back for the odd client who wanted their wendigos and termites dealt with in one fell swoop.
Well: go big, or go home. Full Regalia! Body armor, helmet, gas-mask, laser rifle, … he would even take the stupid sword. A bottle of roach killer under one arm, and a hard copy workorder in the other. If he couldn’t BS his way in the back door and around the chemical/weapon scanners, he would have to work out something else. But for what it was worth, he did have a McHughs contract back in Seattle; the jargon would be similar enough to work here… he hoped…
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Your commlink buzzes a second time- it's a file transfer, a quick one, but it's a low-level McHughs employee-linked SIN.
The name is an obvious fake, the hometown nonexistent, and the biometrics are nothing like you, aside from basic metatype information. The connected picture looks like it was taken from a commcall- which it probably was; in fact, the call you just had.
...this fake SIN may not hold up to intense scrutiny.
(http://www.expandmywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/mclovin-fake-id.png)
But it will get you in the front door with whatever weapons you want to carry, and it looks like even your food is comped.
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"Oh good lord this is ridiculous but okay you bunch of nuts we will try it your way." Kinsey pulls over and looks at this horrible thing. Getting off his bike he pulls the backup commlink from his seat compartment. If he going to get busted he would like to keep his best ID and permits hidden. Most of the border patrols just search the person not the vehicle. Uploading this piece of drek identity on the backup commlink and his normal commlink in the compartment. "I so need another commlink for hopping through checkpoints." Making sure his original commlink is actually off and not broadcasting. Securing the compartment he climbs back onto the bike.
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Sorry, too busy this weekend! Starting from the first post...
After hanging up the call, Eric seems a bit bewildered. "What language was that?" He plays back his recording of the call, just to be sure he fully understands what the young woman was saying. He shrugs, then sends the recording to a subsystem to be analyzed and translated.
He plops down into the pilot's seat, starting the engine systems of the RV. Over his AR display he pulls up a map of the location, then plots a course. He activates the occupied drone rack on the roof of the RV, and launches his recon drone once the vehicle is up to speed. The drone flies off with instructions to monitor the meet location and it's surroundings while flying high enough so that doesn't attract undue attention to itself.
While the RV drives along, Eric opens a new console to see if he can find anything on the 'trix about this strange woman.
Data Search for any info about the caller and McHughs
Data Search Pool is 14 (Logic 7 + Data Search 5 + Codeslinger: Data Search +2)
14d6.hits(5) → [1,1,4,1,3,5,5,4,6,4,6,6,1,4] = (5)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3518395/
After receiving the SIN he balks at the picture. He quickly finds a picture of himself within the last couple of years to replace the picture.
Edit action to change out the picture
Edit pool is 11 (Computer skill 5 + Edit program 6)
11d6.hits(5) → [4,3,5,4,2,3,2,1,6,5,5] = (4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3518397/
Once finished he stores the file away as he shouldn't need it to cross the border, and the RV is registered to him anyway. No need to attract undue attention.
-Ingo
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Sylvester lights up at the addition of an employee ID, even a crappy one.
"Thank you Ms., you just made a halfway decent cover nearly foolproof!"
Sly drives to the monolithic 'M' declaring to everyone that this is the place for low quality soy in sickening quantities, and overboard security.
Parking the van at the far edge of the parking lot; away from the restaurant proper Sly will gear up, and do a perimeter sweep of the building, pest-aside in one hand, and a clipboard containing a work-order in the other.
Circling the building he will collect the rat traps, noting which ones are empty (none of them) and which ones are full. By the time he gets to the employee entrance in the back of the building (on his second loop) he will have the following load-out:
Laser Rifle: slung on his back.
Sword: Right hip.
Shock-Gloves (worn)
Pistol-Crossbow: Concealed, Right wrist.
Pesticide: left hand.
Work-Order: Carried ad-hoc in the Left armpit. (Or clipped to a caribeaner if this proves too unwieldy)
Eight ( 8 ) used rat-traps (Right hand)
Burner Com-link with fake employee ID, Clipped to right breast pocket.
Gas-Mask: Worn at the low ready around his neck.
Helmet: On. Visor up.
Loaded out as such, he will knock on the employee door, if it doesn't open automatically at his approach. (He may have to kick it with a foot due to overloaded arms).
Once inside he'll wander around the work area until he can find a manager to put some sort of initials on his paperwork. If He/She hesitates in the slightest he will start setting traps filled with dead rats onto every nearby surface until he has a free hand to look for a pen, additional paperwork, or whatever additional ID the manager requests.
Most importantly: during this time spent wandering he will get a layout of the store and the workers general placement therein. A full 360'. He will be paying special attention to: Exits, hazards, hiding spots, and approaches to the building.
After getting a signature on his work-order he will go empty the rat-traps and replace them 'ready to go' on the perimeter outside. Making a final circuit of the building, before going inside; briefly speaking the the building security guard, and ordering a black coffee.
That's the plan anyways; Let's see how it works out.
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Another sales vid for coffin nails. Who needs to pay to smoke? Just go to your local dire rat infested bar and have a couple beers. You'll get more than enough smoke to calm your addiction. Of course, that assumes you can stomach the beer enough to stay that long. I'm half way into my first and I'm not sure that my stomach will be able to hold down this partially recycled dog urine. I wish I was home. Uncle Cleatis makes beer that you can actually call beer and not feel ashamed for lying to your mama. Oh, and I don't smoke. It's almost 21:00 hours so I've got to figure out how to keep my stomach calm for the next few hours so I can keep my eyes on these guys in the corner. I'm betting they're the block reps for the local gangers. I need to know more about these guys if I'm gonna be in the (bbzzzz bbzzzz)....neighborhood for a while?
"Greetings. How may I assist you?"
Springbok? (Underworld knowledge test? Don't know how to do all the cool stuff so I'll just enter the stuff w/ the roll # to allow reference. If I'm wrong just let me know what it should be:
Invisible Castle: Galbraith roll #3521144
Underworld knowledge (2) + Logic (5) = 7 dice
7d6.hits(3) [2,3,6,2,5,2,6] = (3)
"Yes, Ma'am, I'll be happy to meet with you and discuss business. It's across the border so it may take as much as 45 minutes to get there. Don't worry, I'll do everything I can to shorten that. Hopefully I'll see you in 30. Thank you for calling. 'Bye."
Before I actually walk into anything do I know anything? Have I heard of her? Friends? Enemies? Is she wanted? Is there a bounty worth more than what she might offer to protect her for a couple days?
Square my tab and head back to the apartment. Gear up.
Urban Explorer Jumpsuit w/ helmet (B6/I8)
covered by an Armored Jacket (B8/I6)
quick-draw holster for the Ares Predator IV on the right thigh
extra mags on belt
Gas Mask in its case on the left hip
Metal Restraints on back of belt
all the other combat gear (weapons, ammo, security gear) and a few days clothes staged in a duffle bag (w/shoulder straps) which gets put on like an oversized backpack. The sword handle and stock butt of the shotgun are in quick reach @ the top of the bag. Once across the border the sword will be slung over his left shoulder more or less under the bag to limit casual observation, but still allowing quick reach.
Activate "Chet Manly-security consultant" ID (lvl 4 fake SIN & license) & head for the border.
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Thinking better of his actions Kinsey puts his regular SIN on his primary commlink. Leaving the other two spares in his secondary commlink in the storage under his seat. Starting up his bike he goes to the closest crossing to the territory he is going to. Kinsey hands over the SIN and waits. "Hello officer here you go. My purpose for crossing I am just wanting to go see what the club scene has to offer. Variety is the spice of life right? Not really expecting an answer since these guys are all business now that Ghostwalker is in charge.
OOC:The roll for me is Rating + Charisma (4+3=7) Die Roll:4,1,4,2,2,6,4= 5 successes (I believe) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3527886
Nodding his head as he is waved through the checkpoint. He quickly gets down the road and keeps moving. He approaches McHughs but passes it by and circles the block just to assess the situation. Consulting his commlink for a good place to park within a block of the location he sets up his vehicle. Grabbing what little gear is in storage he transfers and loads up the alternate ID to get in the place. Now just the vehicle will get stolen.
Walking casually to the location though taking in the sites and making notes of them in his commlink. Sometimes the best way to bodyguard someone was to keep them out in the public eye and othertimes well hidden. Having a couple of places to duck into to see if you are being followed is useful as well. Seeing the location ahead he double checks everything mentally in his head on equipment.
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Call no man happy till he is dead.
- Aeschylus
Mood Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSFDAB1ItpU)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/AROs.jpg)
Ingomonk/Eric Dubois
Eric's search only takes a second to come up with the answer; the girl was speaking 'funakalo,' a slang used in South Africa. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_South_African_slang_words#Afrikanerisms) It contains a mixture of Afrikaans, English, Dutch, German, and African languages.
Using this, in conjunction with the other information that the girl had given him, Dubois set up a search while he got going. The Aurora Warrens weren't a nice place, and having an armored vehicle stood out here less than it did other places. One of the benefits of being a place that no one wanted to look.
Another benefit was that so many residents of the Warrens set commlinks to private or even 'closed' that it was a virtual dead space. A valuable thing, if a decker needed to disappear off the grid for a few hours to lay low.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughs.png) | The search on McHugh's turns up the usual: the corporation has a proud history; founded in the then-USA, it went on to enjoy global dominance and success. Early corporate wars caught the behemoth off-guard, and its divisions were gobbled up by megacorps. Naming rights were heavily contested, and now a string of very similar franchises with almost identical names exist.
“McHughs” distinguishes itself by having perfectly prepared foods, a family-friendly environment, and heavy security. Friendly and professional security guards patrol the buildings at all times, carrying both lethal and less-than-lethal armaments to deal with threats. In event of a situation that the on-site guards unable to deal with, automated defenses deploy NeruoStun VIII gas, which painlessly renders guests and intruders unconscious while corporate security is deployed to the site. |
In addition to security know for their friendly demeanor and professional crisis-management skills, the restaurant also houses state-of the art security scanners.
A punch-code box like this blocks every locked door- not only does it require a RFID tag and ping on the commlink of the manager on duty, but the thumbprint scanner also reads heartbeat, rate, and even perspiration; meaning that if the employee is under any duress, security will be alerted, footage downloaded to multiple archives, and the usage flagged.
The atmosphere at McHughs is brightly colored and stifling- everything is perfectly antiseptically clean, either wiped down with toxic chemicals by a minimum-wage-slave or sprayed with a puff of aerosolized antibacterial by floor drones. Depending on the area and the views, the building was either plascrete or tinted bulletproof glass. |
| Food is prepared by automated drones that activate only when food is ordered, using a low-tech wired system to prevent hacking. The menu is simple, variations on a theme, with soy and krill burgers, a variety of fake toppings made with realistic flavors. The BIGASS fries actually contain enough potato to be considered a vegetable, and most people enjoy their personal preference in soykaf flavors. The pièce de résistance is the sundae ordering menu, which brags 13 flavors (not including the meat or egg from the main menu), and over a hundred and fifty combinations. | (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Ordering-Menu.png) |
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughs-Map.png) |
The first border crossing is a pain- there's always a line to cross into the CAS- because the CAS has the hub, and if you need to be anywhere important, it's the Hub.
Rolling for Ingo's border crossing(s):
5d6.hits(5) → [3,1,4,3,6] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3535262/
5d6.hits(5) → [2,3,5,4,3] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3535265/ After the guard gives the armored vehicle an odd look, he waves the car through. One down, one to go.
Cutting straight across the CAS sector is easy- although traffic slows again around University of Denver, since it's friday night and a million parties are all happening at the same time trying to cause the largest number of alcohol poisonings.
Before long, you’re at the PCC border, and a bored ZDF guard waves you through as soon as you stop at the inspection line. Easy enough. |
| Dubois looks through the results for Ms. Rastire; although she appears to be a talented hacker, she is reckless and inexperienced. |
| (http://blackgirllonghair.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/summer2010211-vi.jpg) | Rastire isn't an alias; her name is Shayma Rastire.
Born, 14th Jan 2056; Tygerberg Hospital, Capetown.
Father, unknown; Mother, data-entry wageslave for Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vaal.
Rastire is a social girl, friendly and excelled at matrix education that was offered to her; multiple offenses in school for digital malfeasance, which they call anything worth doing in the matrix.
Her handle, Springbok, tells you much more about her.
She's pro-anarchy, and anti-corporate, common enough for someone raised in the corporate protection racket. She had high marks in math and linguistics, meaning she'll be a decent codeslinger if she can live long enough to learn the trade.
|
She left Capetown after some sort of trouble- she never says directly, and the Corp doesn't have anything posted. She hopped a smuggler jet to Egypt, from there to Italy, where she did some datasteals to pay for her flight to London.
She’s been bragging that she "lives off the grid like her da' now" and making her way toward the Emerald City. A search references Oz, but that's not a place you've ever heard of. She doesn't stay anyplace long- find a low-paying job, something easy, then moving on. London, Greenland; and then into the UCAS via Bridgeport, Conneticut. She got stuck there... hitch-hiked into New York, where she found a decent fixer and got a big job, something to pay for her flight to the Treaty City.
She's new to Denver- been here six days.
She was trolling the Nexus looking for work, and an altercation with an Admin got her banned for a couple days.
She eventually got a job from GoblinCUM, a data broker who was looking for someone to hit a specific target. That's the end of her datatrail- whatever this is, it must be related to that.
Ruskiface/Sylvester Dante
(http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/assets/83534/Dire_rat.JPG)
Sly's life is much less glamorous. Despite the fact that he had the furthest distance to travel, he didn't have to slow down or stop for any border crossings, and so he's able to make good time to the McHugh's. Luckily, the layout was the same for all of them, and his in-depth knowledge of rats this place attracts makes him a welcome addition.
McHughs uses low-profile rat traps, the kind that weren't really visible from far away, and had odor-blockers and white noise generators, assuming that no devil-rat clawed its way through the plasteel. Several of the traps are worse for wear, but enough are occupied that you have hands full as you enter. Unfortunately, this is one of the poor-neighborhood models, no bulletproof acrylic. It's also a smaller, older, building, built with a single entrance and exit. There's not even an addition entrance for the manager's office, which makes life difficult when it comes to escape or covert entrance.
Walking up to the door with filled traps- that's a guarantee that no one wants to keep you standing around. The manager doesn't even check the paperwork, merely notes the rat cages and then signs. He gives a half-hearted "Kwakwhay," before heading toward the bathroom.
The guards ignore you- not only are the rat traps empty, but you're broadcasting an Employee SIN, and they have no reason to question that. The layout of the place is well-known, with this location built out of cheery plastcrete painted oranges and yellows. The main entrance has a built-in MAD and ARO scanner that pings the PAN of anyone approaching and forwards that information to the gate guard.
The bathrooms are standard fare, and the only other rooms are the storage room, where employees stock the per-processed 'food' that gets nuked on its conveyor belt to the waiting tastebuds of grateful customers. Why wouldn't they be grateful, with a greasy and salty BIGASS fries to keep them happy?
There's a girl with her feet against the wall, playing World of Shadowcraft. Her runner, 'Damien Daisyeater69,' is currently scaling a fictional building that resembles the real-life the Renracu Arcology, although it's important to note that this fictional building is legally distinct, and therefore safe from lawsuit from Renracu. She’s not Rastire, though.
Rastire is sitting near the back corner, reading datafeeds and sipping a soykaf while ignoring the mound of wrappers sitting at her table. Drones keep approaching the table, only to be waved away by her. She looks nervous, jittery, and in need of help. As though a sixteen-year old girl 15,000km from home wouldn’t be jittery, scared, or need your help.
BulletSponge/Damien Galbraith
(http://www.phawker.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Dive_Bar_Andrei.jpg)
It's not always easy to infiltrate a gang bar- sometimes you have to bribe the right people, sometimes you just have to hate the same enemies. Usually, it costs you nuyen and teeth.
Sometimes, you get lucky. That's how Galbraith felt- lucky.
Gabriel Morrison, former sergeant and buddy, can't talk to you because you're no longer on the corporate payroll. He can't help out when you have bills due, not when rent is due, not when Vinny is asking when he's going to get his 4,500¥.
No, Morrison tells you that in order for you to be listed as a 'valuable asset,' the kind he can pass along important information to, like the stuff that will keep you alive, you have to come up with money, information, drugs, weapons, or criminal networks worth at least 5,000¥ to the corporation. How's that for a gas?
That's why you're in this dive- trying to feel out Los Diablos, a gang that came with Aztech and didn't leave when Ghostwalker kicked the country and corporation out. Rumor is, they're running coyote under the newly minted CAS section, smuggling drugs, chips, guns, organs, flesh, and whatever else they can get their hands on, just to prove that they run the tunnels down there.
It's a mighty inconvenient time for your commlink to buzz, but is there ever a bad time for someone to call up and offer you a job? I think not.
Walking out of a place like that is as dangerous as walking in, so you have to wait a few minutes for something distracting to happen- in this case, one of the kids trying to prove himself takes a flaming shot of tequila that gets out of control; and you make a retreat to your Suzuki parked nearby.
The trip to your doss costs you precious minutes as well, but it's worth it- who knows what sort of situation you're walking into.
Loading up with weapons, armor, and a go-bag just seems like good sense. Hard to believe you were training for the Olympics at one point. The picture your grandmother took hangs on the wall, a grim reminder of the path that life has taken you.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/SuzukiMirage.jpg) |
Punching up 'Chet Manly' on your Commlink is second nature- no need to tarnish your sterling reputation with something like petty crime. You're so used to the name that you've started sometimes thinking of yourself as 'Chet.'
Rolling through the border crossing armed to the teeth isn't usually a good idea, but with your permits attached to your fake SIN, and your high-level cover identity, you should be able to breeze through the ZDF cronies without a worry. That doesn't stop a bead of sweat from running down your face, inside your helmet.
BulletSponge's border crossing:
Cha 2 + Ettiquette 3 + Fake SIN 4 = 9
9d6.hits(5) → [4,2,6,5,3,5,4,4,2] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3535296/ After a few tense seconds, the ZDF guard waves you through, not even glancing at your weapons. |
Surfing the Matrix AROs while driving isn't always a good idea, but you set the pilot system on your bike to take you to the McHughs, and check out what data you can while you're riding.
Denver maps run from 50¥ to 300¥, depending on how much you want to spend, and how much information you really need. There are two hospitals nearby, one in the PCC and one on the CAS side. There's also a clinic on the CAS side that does cash; meaning they'll stitch you up if you can pay, no questions asked.
There's a police station right on the CAS side, local to keep the unruly University of Denver kids in line, but they can't cross into PCC territory. The closest PCC station is about ten minutes north, or twenty minutes south. Depending on where a patrol car is, they could be on scene in five to ten minutes. The McHughs is on the edge of Lakewood, where foreclosures and abandoned homes have led to a less than desirable element moving in. That might affect the response time, there's no way of knowing for sure until you're more familiar with cops in the area.
The big unknown is who is hiring you- you're not familiar with anyone named Rastire, or a hacker named Springbok, and it's your job to keep up on local stuff like this. Denver is a big place, and it has a lot of splintered factions and a lot of people, but it's a fair bet she's not from around here, or you would have heard of her.
As you pull up, you watch the building and traffic, looking for problems.
(http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad347/intothebreach_album/McHugh_NEW.png)
The place is one of the older buildings. One entrance, no additional exits. Plascrete- a mixture of plastic and concrete that would make a solid barrier; it also wasn't exposed like those glass buildings- where the enemies could watch you on display as you ran for the exit. There's a small parking lot, and no joined buildings, so while you'll be limited on exits, you can worry about the approach vector a little less.
The entrance faces south, with a parking lot wrapping around the building, and AROs demonstrating the healthy process of making McHughs food, and children laughing and playing in safety. There's even a hot sino girl dressed up as a mascot.
Watching the buildings around you, there's only one real sniper point- there's a ten-story apartment building to the east, but it doesn't have a good view on the entrance. It's possible an observer could watch from there, but they wouldn't be able to see who got into a vehicle, if you were careful.
The staff at McHughs is professional, well-paid, and well-trained; among the PCC, they're probably former military or maybe even your Lonestar brethren. They're armed with pistols, nothing impressive, but they have Defiance EX-Shockers to deal with customers that can't be talked down, stun batons to deal with those who don't go down easy, and at the first sign of trouble, the doors lock down and the entire place is flooded with Neurostun VIII. Neurostun-8 is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas. It doesn't knock out instantly, but it's quick-acting enough that it'll put down even a riot quickly in a controlled environment. If you could get a hacker to stop the Neurostun, you'd still have to deal with the lockdown, and the guards with stunguns.
And, if you're lucky enough to survive dealing with that, the security system that flagged you when you walked in the door has already called for backup, corporate security who fly in on a HTR-equipped T-bird and shoot anything moving with rubber bullets until it stops.
McHughs the perfect meeting place- it's so completely over-safe that no one in their right mind would dream of taking it over.
Bull/Kinsey
(http://www.gods-inc.de/macavity/shadowrun/vehicles/bmw-blitzen.jpg)
The city is restless.
It's a friday night- Mark is going to be pissed that he didn't have his best bouncer on staff tonight. Joe tended bar at the Crazy Horse, and was a friend. Joe was the kind of guy who understood that he needed to watch your back, and when he came up with something good, you could make it worth his while. Not a friend, really, but a contact, someone you could trust to cover your back. If it wasn't Joe coming up with a juicy rumor, it was Jodi. Bunraku, escort, stripper, private entertainer, exotic dancer; however you called it, the elven girl was a beauty. Heard a lot of information, too, and all too often could figure out who would pay the most.
Friday nights were the busiest night of the week. Saturday, you would have your locals tearing the place up, but on Fridays, the sari-men from the local offices, the new Denver arrivals, and those getting ready to leave- they came in to blow off steam- and they got mile high drunk. Apparently, if you're not used to it, being at this elevation can get you drunk faster than anything. Most people think they're above it, or that they've built up a tolerance, but it hits everyone.
That's why a fancy place will pay good money for a bouncer with a little mojo, in case things get rough. 'Be prepared,' like Doc said. Not a bad place to pick up a little trim, either.
Parking the bike a block away, you watch the traffic and move toward the McHughs. There is heavy traffic- this close to a border crossing, right across from the University, plenty of students were sneaking over to buy higher proof drugs, CalHots; or just trying to get into the university party of the weekend.
There is a large amount of drone traffic overhead. None of the other pedestrians seem to be worried about it, so that's probably a normal amount, but it actually feels like the sky above the street is crowded. Most everything is moving, cars controlled by gridguide nodes instead of relying on the archaic 'lights' system.
If you want to map or walk out individual stuff, that's fine. A google map search for the following address: 3996 East Evans Avenue, Denver, CO will get you the approximate surroundings and general neighborhood layout. I'm not going to make up six blocks worth of buildings in every direction.
I would really expect Kinsey to do Astral surveillance, or maybe just get a peek around the area. He is the only mage in the group, after all.
EDIT - Tried to clean up the table structure a little in the post to remove the horizontal scroll bar. More difficult than I thought :O
-Ingo
EDIT #2 - For best results limit image width to 625 pixels. You can resize with [img width=625 ]<insert image url>[/img ]
-Ingo
-
"Great the damn university, now I got to worry about some damn student's magic project breaking free and being on the loose. Looking about as he activated the sight. Well, I am not paid by the hour here but might as well work early to keep myself alive at least. No need to have something follow me home. Kinsey remembers the stories Doc tell him about gremlins especially one named Roach. Of course Roach was this annoying hacker that thought mages were like Karl Kombatmage. He set up Doc's clinic with it's tech and systems. Looking about the area with his sight active he takes in the immediate area. Unless something pops out to him as out of the ordinary he isn't going to look too hard. No, need to get fragged by some watcher or elemental who thinks I might interfere with it's task. Loading up the ID as he stops to cross the street. Walking straight up to the door and nodding as he walks through and to the counter and orders a soda and sundae. Just a regular hot fudge number. Kicking the drone away from the girl he sits across from her. "Yo, chica what's the what?" Taking a spoonful of sundae and waiting to hear her out.
-
On the way to the destination Eric searches the 'trix for info about Springbok's handler "GoblinCUM."
Data Search for any info about GoblinCUM.
Data Search Pool is 14 (Logic 7 + Data Search 5 + Codeslinger: Data Search +2)
14d6.hits(5) → [5,1,3,1,6,5,5,2,3,2,3,2,4,1] = (4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3538504/
Eric arrives at the location and finds a spot nearby to park within view of the restaurant. He commands the vehicle to passively monitor the area and report any police or criminal activity. He also commands it to record anyone taking anything more than passive interest in the vehicle or the restaurant.
He commands his Kull drone above to do the same.
He installs a copy of the fake SIN into his disposable commlink, puts on his armored jacket, and puts his light pistol in the concealed holster beneath it.
Before he leaves the vehicle he takes a passive look at the restaurant's public node to gauge the difficulty of hacking in.
-
Sylvester moves over to the local dumpster, double-tapping the ‘kill-switch’ on any rat boxes that still have movement inside them. Dumping the deceased contents into the dumpster he will reload the traps and replace them along the exterior of the building.
One entrance, One exit. The building represented a proverbial rat-trap its self, with the treasure inside, and no way out once you stepped inside and they closed the door.
Having just dumped so many dead rats into the rubbish bin makes him more than a little paranoid for entering the exact same setup himself.
Wait… that’s not quite right. There would be two additional possible exits once he got inside.
One: the roof.
Two: the sewer.
The sewer was probably too small for anyone over the age of 5 to get to through the pipes. He could look just to make sure though. The roof though… That idea was a better possibility.
They started restricting roof access to the inside of the building once they realized too many vandals were breaking into the building to steal lightbulbs or creatively re-spell McHughs. If you were willing to brave a tuck and roll single-story fall you could certainly exit the building that way. Better than nothing anyways.
Sylvester keeps two of the emptied traps, clipping them onto his harness as he moves back to the van to deposit the unused pesticide. Re-locking his vehicle he moves back into the building, searching out the manager… what was his name? Sylvester is trying to remember what the manager’s name-tag said before he ran off to the restroom.
“R-something”? “Rick? Roger? …Roberto? No. I think Roger.”
Genious! You’ve got his name written on the paperwork you just picked up.
Checking the paperwork Sylvester sees that the manager wrote ‘Billy’ on the ‘your name here:’ spot.
Real good smart guy. Yea, You’ll stay alive forever in a hostile environment with memory skills like that!
”Hey Billy? It’s me; the exterminator, Sory to bother you when you’re here in the restroom, but I need to get up to the roof to change the traps up there, can I borrow your keycard to open it up? The last couple of buildings I did had rats up there that hadn’t been changed in over a year. They got so full the rats started getting out and climbing in through the vents. One of them even bit through a N-S-8 line! I don’t have to tell you what kinda a mess that makes!”
Sylvester chuckles at his own joke, but more to cover his own embarrassment of talking to someone who is ‘making a duce’ with dropped trousers, breaking the longstanding social taboo of ‘no talkey-talkey when doing #2’,
”Look buddy, I’d wait for you to finish up, but I’m kinda nervous about heights, and if I don’t do it now, it’ll be another year before anyone looks up there… Kinda gotta psych myself up to just go and do it ya know?”
Sylvester shifts his weight from foot to foot, and half wonders if he should pee before going up to the roof? Forcing a cough to fill the awkward silence Sly waits a short eternity for a hand to hold a dongle-pass and it’s lanyard in the classic: ‘under the stall wall pass’.
”Thanks buddy, I’ll get it back to you super fast, is the roof access behind the counter? Yea? I thought so. ”
Sylvester exits the restroom and flags down one of the armed guards.
”Hey:.. looks down at nametag ..Roger? I gotta open up the roof access to go change some traps up there, You guys need to be there when I open it up right? It’ll just be a minute.”
Waving the aquired manager’s pass like a tiny flag Sly will take a few tentative steps toward the employee work area behind the counter hoping that Roger the security guard follows.
”I’ve already got Billy’s pass-lock-thingie.”
Sylvester drops his voice down an octave and quietly leans in to pass the next tidbit.
”He’s taking care of a number two… if you know what I mean?…”
Sylvester looks around to make sure that none of the happy customers heard that last exchange. People eating food don’t normally like to think about the employees and poop at the same time.
Accessing the roof is a lot of trouble. But knowing there’s an escape route, and actually walking it once are two completely different things. Walking it you learn where you’ll have to duck under too-low ductwork, where the door handles are, and what things you’ll have to step over to avoid tripping in a panicked escape. Maybe there were rat-traps up there? There should be if there wasn’t.
Sylvester will replace (or just place, if there’s nothing up there) the rat-traps on the roof and take a quick look-see as to which side of the building he would pick to jump off of if it really came down to it. Another decision that seems silly, but if you make it ahead of time; it could be the one decision that saves your life.
Returning back down to the dining room floor he will thank Roger for his help. (I knew someone was named Roger) and get the manager’s passcard back to him inside the restroom if he hasn’t made it out yet. ”Hey, you should work a salad in there once in a while buddy…””
Sylvester finishes up by ordering his coffee, and going to take off his gloves and wash his hands before retrieving the coffee from the serving droid and moving to take a seat at the table across from Ms. Rastire.
”Mr. Johnson I presume?”
-
A box with only 1 door for ingress/egress? Like an outhouse. Or a coffin. Either way it means if something goes down it's gonna' get real deep real quick. McHughs is well known for having security that actually gets the job done. The problem is that, like the cops and military, they blindly secure EVERYBODY. Even those of us who would help them. If you ain't one of them you only get 2 choices: innocent that needs protection or target to be controlled. If you pull a weapon to defend yourself you become the enemy. Of course, if you're willing to be patient and let them go first they make a solid front line.
Ok. Prep time. Drive past. Where's the best spot to cover the front door? That corner. Where's the best spot to cover that corner? That building across the street. Ok, drive around the block and go back to that "abandoned" building (they are never abandoned, the most you can hope for is they will be discreet and only have small arms)covering that corner. I gotta set-up my Jiminey (a commlink so old it's due to come back in style any day now wired to a key chain laser pointer so when I send a text to the 'link it will activate the pointer....POOF instant "sniper" cover) in a window so it can cover that corner. Then come back and park on the side of McHughs. I want my bike near at hand, but not in front near the fatal funnel of fire....I mean the only door out.
Free food? Yeah, I'm gonna switch to this bogus ID. Cover story....on my way back from providing security for a district managers' meeting in Littleton. Good enough to get in the door if they're not on alert. Make sure the sword is out of the bag and on my back with the bag over it. Ensure my quick-draw holster is strapped securely in place and the quick release thumb snap isn't stuck. Verify the stock of the Remy '90 is right at the top of the bag and nothing is in the way to snag it on the draw. Let's get this rodeo started.
Walk through the door, nod to the guard as he gives my gear a double look and double checks the ID. "Outrider security for a district managers' meeting in Littleton. It's a bit of a drive from Englewood, but the OT is always loved." Then I stroll to the counter. "Order to go, please. 3 Beast burgers, 2 BIGASS fries, and a Soykaf (Black)...my girl's been craving the fries so I better make sure I bring enough home. Thanks." Spend the wait time looking around measuring the patrons and searching out the Mr. Johnson.
-
“Danger - if you meet it promptly and without flinching - you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!”
- Winston Churchill
Punk Rock (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rre7zGsuK8s&feature=relmfu)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/girlwithglasses.jpg)
Springbok, or Rastire if you'd rather, is sitting with her back to the plascrete wall, watching the door and the security around it. The AROs for this corner of the McHughs have been disabled, and in their place her personal wallspace is a zen garden with a rippling water fountain made of... light.
Although the exterminator is wandering around the premises, Kinsey is the first to sit at the table.
Bull/Kinsey
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/stringtheory.jpg)
The area around the border and the university was a high-traffic zone in every sense of the word. THere were teenage college students on foot, looking for the border crossing, or a good time to be had on either side of the border. Several drug dealers wandered the crowds, servicing those needs as well.
Many of these kids have drained auras- the dimness brought on by excessive drug use and addiction, rather than the darkness caused by metallic augmentation.
Through the astral above the ground, messenger spirits, watchers, they flit past at the speed of thought, delivering messages and bringing reports. There are a few steadier spirits toward the border crossing, but they seem more interested in the border traffic itself than any happenings on either side. They're largely ignoring you and the crowds around you.
As you sit down in the chair with your ice cream, a thought occurs to you; Why do they call it cream? It's made with soy and almond flavoring, nothing even approaching milk products taking part. It's closer to soy-yogurt than anything.
Springbok seems surprised as you confidently sit at the table, and in response to your question she asks: "Are you befok?"
Ingo/Eric Dubois
Checking on a contact's contact- seems like extra running around, but pushing it to a background process as you send commands to your drone means that the queue is ready before you've even turned your attention back to the window.
The first ARO link is... odd, to say the least. (http://theoatmeal.com/blog/miracle_whip)
(http://paizo.com/image/avatar/halgrak_color.jpg) | The second most likely image is a databroker from Istanbul who deals in one-shots and short-term pairings, all with hackers; oddly enough, refuses to deal with technomancers, and always has a final meeting to pay up, in cash. Usually, the hacker will log in and say something beneficial on his profile on the lower-end datahavens in Denver.
Looks like this guy is actually a hobgoblin ork-variant from Istanbul, hence the name (although he's not actually a kreiger-strain that produces Goblins, since they would spit out cyberwear required to access the matrix he's probably safe).
Odd... most of those deckers seemed to go off-grid shortly thereafter. Either GoblinCUM is setting them up to take a fall, or he's geeking deckers and taking their commlinks to talk himself up. Either way, he's a scumbag. Not to mention that he re-sells hacked bunracu feeds, depriving those women of even a modest income.
Seems Springbok needs help after all. |
The drone and vehicle settle into watcher mode, recording the drug dealer who's hiding from passing street traffic while selling BTLs to a crowd of willing elven girls- college girls, by the looks of them.
There are a couple of motorcycles circling the area. An EVO Falcon disappears down a nearby alleyway, and the human in a tailored greatcoat makes his way to the store, stopping to watch the riff-raff on his own and changing over to a FakeSIN that looks similar to the one sent to you before entereing McHughs.
After a few more passes, a military-looking fragger wearing a bucket of guns parks his bike down the street in front of a six-story abandoned building, hiking inside for a few minutes and setting up a sniper's perch before returning to his bike and parking in front of the store. Seems to know his security, lined up the sniper's position with the doorway, put his bike behind some cover in case things go badly.
Your drone notes a pest control van parked behind McHugh's, recharging off of gridguide and some minor movement on the roof- looks like some poor fragger is emptying rat traps or something.
McHugh's public node isn't anything to write home about. The place is crawling with physical security known for calm demeanor and politeness, and the digital presence is a reflection of that.
Buzz on the Tumblr-sphere is that it's a pretty decent system, made particularly fearless by the digital spider sitting in the web, to maintain discipline with the physical security, coordinate alarms and lockdowns, and to keep hackers like yourself out.
On top of that, McHughs is wired to the LTG to support the system in event of a wireless shutdown or jamming attempt- this place is a serious fortress for digital and physical security. You might even consider it as a bunker in case of a zombie apocalypse. | McHugh's
Nodes 1–4: Firewall 5, Response 2, Signal 2, System 4 |
Ruski / Sylvester Dante
Con the Manager:
Charisma (4) + Influence (3) + Previous experience (2) + SIN (2) + Pooing (1)
12d6.hits(5) → [3,1,3,3,3,5,4,4,4,4,5,1] = (2)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3552336/
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/MeetBill.jpg)
Attacking a man while he's pressed on other business is a time-honored negotiating tactic. It also works well in cons and blackmail; no time like the wife walking up the steps to the house to make your final pitch, remind him of everything he's about to lose. This tactic also works while the subject is on the toilet or otherwise indisposed and unwilling to hold long conversations.
Bill, the manager, isn't supposed to hand out his keycard. There's some sort of security feature built into it that makes him able to gas the entire resteraunt, for instance, and McHughs frowns on him giving that out to anyone who asks. But, seeing as he's in a stall and unwilling to talk to you, it's simple to remind him that while he's dropping drek in the greater Denver Metropolitan Sewer System, rats are chewing through the feed cables that make this food halfway palatable.
This makes his position all the more uncomfortable, and his situation that much more dire. Neither one was a good alternative, but Sly had already showed up with proper paperwork and done good work, as well as being an honest employee with a citizen SIN! It's not a tough call.
The security guard, Roger, takes Sly into the prep room, where the hum of machines pressurizing 'fako-cheaz' to the optimum consistency and temperature is sure to take your appetite away. The roof access is in this room, which is itself locked by a keypad and keycard reader. The roof hatch won't open without a manager's authorization, which you happily provide while holding the chit, and then check the roof and return to your business.
There's a man with a tailored greatcoat sitting with his back to the door as you approach the table that Miss Rastire is sitting at. Your opening "Mister Johnson, I presume?" gives a break to whatever awkward pause was happening in the conversation, and they both turn to regard you. Miss Rastire seems amused by your rat trap antics.
BulletSponge/Damien Galbraith
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/mcdonalds.jpg)
McHughs is the same as it's always been. The yellow AROs on the walls are meant to entertain kids and those with severe brain damage, flashy menus, happy clowns, and a sexy redheaded mascot meant to be iconic without being an infringement of any specifically held intellectual properties of other corporations. The result is a rather hyper-caffeinated syrup of generic imagery. And the public eats it up; to be honest, it makes the anarchist in you throw up a little bit to see these people herded like sheep.
The other benefit is that if someone doesn't blend in, they stand out. Take, for instance, the security guards. Whatever stimulants they're prescribed are working, because they're sharp eyed and steely-gazed as they look over your credentials and wave you through security. The computer has a fit at the contents of your bag, and the guard finally has to manually override the system to keep it from calling for backup. That makes you feel a little better.
There's usually a manager on duty, but he's nowhere to be seen.
There's a girl along the west wall, laying across two chairs with her feet in the middle of a happy clown Augmented Reality Object's face. The clown doesn't seem to appreciate the gesture, but lying that way in a skirt that short... it meant several things.
Focus, Chet Manly. Every McHughs had a similar structure, meaning that every floorplan had the same benefits, the same flaws. There wasn't any cover to be had aside from the preperation bay, where you ordered and recieved your flash-cooked foodstuffs. The tables were flimsy, the chairs barely more than plasteel enough to hold a 200kg troll woman; they were designed not to be useful as cover or as an improvised weapon in a fight. With no cover, the security officers (yes, there were six of them) had a line of fire to anyone in the room. It was safe like night-time in Singapore- you didn't have to worry about the 'bad guys' because almost any crime was punishable by death; conversely, you had to keep your nose so clean it hurt or risk that penalty yourself.
Miss Johnson is sitting on the southeast corner of the room, her back to a wall and two shady types already crowding the table in front of her. Security hasn't flagged them, which means they probably have a similar working SIN. There's a guy in armored coveralls wearing weapons and a gasmask- and a patch indicating that he's an exterminator for Sly's Paranormal Exterminations; the humor of that brings a smirk to your lips.
The other guy is wearing a tailored greatcoat- which is just stylish and armored enough to mean that he probably also knows what he's doing.
EDIT: Fixed link to youtube music video. Apparently adding "http:// www. whatever. com/" makes the URL link become http://"http:// www. whatever. com/".
-Ingo
-
Eric makes notes of the interesting folk in the area and decides to hold off on hacking the public node since he actually needs to enter the place for the meet. He puts his primary commlink in hidden mode with the secondary loaded with the "McHugh's SIN" in passive. As he approaches the entrance to McHugh's he switches the secondary to active to let the guards see the SIN. After he enters he reels a little bit by the ARO bombardment, though he does do a double take after noticing the McHugh's 'mascot.' After a slight pause he finds "Springbok" seated with some interesting fellows and approaches.
-
Sylvester sits with his back to the door. A tactical no-no, but the seat allows him to see their ‘Mr. Johnson’ and the other occupants of the table. Really, if a threat is going to present its self, he imagines that it’s more likely to be from one of the people he’s meeting, rather than from some outside force.
He is satisfied that the perimeter has been secured, and he’s got a surprise escape route memorized well enough that he could run it even blinded by Neurostun. Sylvester is still idly fiddling with the manager’s key-fob, spinning it lazily around the pinky finger on his left hand. He kept it as much to keep the manager from setting off the nerve-gas, as to secure his own exit out the roof. If all goes well, he can hand it back with a smile and a thank-you, the manager none the worse (and slightly more rat-protected) for his precautions.
To those looking on, Sylvester is a well-polished, if tired looking worker-bee. His uniform is clean, and the tears and holes have been patched professionally and cleanly. His dry-cleaner is probably well-paid and oft-visited. The dark circles under his eyes are counterbalanced by an easy smile framed by a well-kept ‘devil’s goatee’. His uniform, a dark red ‘urban explorer’ ensemble has the company patches on the shoulders and back, as well as his name stenciled ‘sly’ over the right breast pocket. The uniform is utilitarian, sporting more pockets and “D” hooks for equipment and gear than is necessary for most professions.
As far as equipment, He is loaded for bear. The laser rifle, a rarity even in this day and age, is slung over his right shoulder running the length of his back, from shoulder blade to utility belt. It is sheathed in a custom molded holster fitted to his uniform, and in a matching red color. To those in the know, the matching red work gloves casually clipped on a D-ring at his left hip reveal the metallic conductive pads and battery packs native to the ‘shock-glove’ line of defensive armaments. A sword sheath is also attached to the belt, situated for cross-draw from his left hip. Again: the leather with its external warnings alerting passersby and casual users to the dangers within: is naturally dyed to a matching red. Sylvester’s helmet, a ‘pith’ styled number, popularized by the old ‘nam videos of yesteryear, has a set of goggles situated on top, and a gas-mask that dangles precariously to one side. It appears that the ventilation kit is halfway between being completely strapped in, and completely taken off.
A single set of empty rat-traps, their McHughes logo emblazen on the tops are clipped to yet another D-Ring. This, combined with a returned nod to Roger the security guard walking by their table as Sylvester drinks his coffee, indicates that Sly has found acceptance and comfort in this environment; despite his ‘extra’ equipment setting him apart from the usual clientele.
Sylvester removes his helmet, setting it in his lap and runs his fingers through his hair, pushing it back into its would-be slicked-back style. Or at least it is as close as someone can manage to ‘style’ after wearing a helmet.
”So, Mr. J, I assume we are waiting for a few others to arrive? Before we get started I’m curious as to how you got my number, I don’t mind the work, I just want to know if I owe anyone a referral bonus?”
Sylvester will make small talk with his fellow fortune-hunters, or anyone else that wanders close and seems to take an interest in him. He will readily hand out business cards to anyone who seems interested in his work, never one to shy away from legitimate enterprise to supplement the less-steady shadow-y income sources.
-
Sitting in the seat with his fudge sundae looking at the girl sitting across from him. His hand drifting but dropping as the gentlemen who were approaching didn't make any sudden moves. Wearing a nice black leather great coat underneath which is a biker suit that is dark green and black, and biker boots to complete the ensemble. Left wrist has a nice silver bracelet and two silver rings one on each hand. A full biker's helmet hanging off his left side dark green with a black stripe that matches his suit.
"No, chica I am not crazy but thanks for asking. I will admit I don't know how they can call this ice cream either but the times change, the composition changes, but the classics are still the classics." Eating another spoonful of my fudge sundae. "So why don't you tell us your problem and your offer that way I can figure out if I blew off my regular gig for some novacoke-head or I have something a bit more lucrative in my future?
Kinsey isn't a patient man, he knows he is not a patient man, his teacher was not a patient man either. His teacher was actually a very cruel and hostile man to say the least. Stories were abound about how he would help due massive property damage to an area then walk around passing out his business cards to his surviving victims. When Doc got irritated or annoyed with Kinsey, he would wake up a few hours later from the 'stunbolt' lesson that Doc taught him. One of those moments reminds him of this. "Negotiate who the hell do I look like Damien Knight? Look your magic kid that is all you are there for period. They don't want you for your looks or your personality. They want you there because you can sling spells and keep an eye on the astral. If the price doesn't seem right ask for more if they say no, walk. If the price seems too good to be true, walk away or in some cases run away and lock yourself in a bolt hole for a few months. That's it for negotiation 101 kid now get up and try that stunbolt again. The 'volunteers' are awake again and they seem to be suffering. Remember concentrate past the pain."
-
Scarlet drove around the block the the McHughes for a second time. This time following a city mass transit vehicle. The ARO coming for the large vehicle was almost annoying enough for her to shut off the incoming AR displays. What did she care for the latest in mens designer shoes.
As she passed the front for the second time she looked about shaking her head. I gave up heading to the clubs for this possible piece of action. I must really be desperate. She thought as the brakes on the comet gave a slight screech when it came to a full stop at the farthest spot in the McHughes parking lot. It was almost a straight shot to the road and the cover, if she needed it, was decent. Bringing up the balance on her credstick she sighed.
Frag! I am that desperate. Her hands gripped the wheel tighter for a second as she looked over the Fake SIN that had been sent to her. To say that it was terrible would have been an understatement. Even then she still had doubts that it would work. It gave her access to the establishment with practically whatever she wanted to bring in. "This had better work. If anyone believes that is my likeness they should get some new eye mods." She said as she blew out a breath from the corner of her mouth.
She was ready to go. Hair thick dark red hair was already pulled back into a ponytail in an effort to keep it out of her face if the drek hit the fan. Body armor on underneath with her lined coat over that. She still wore the cargo pants and the tee she was going to wear to the club. A large NY, the symbol for the Yankees, was embrazened over her chest. Both held up to the necessary fashion that would be needed to get in. Not that she ever needed the help of clothes to get her into places.
Going over her gear she had all she needed. Contacts and earbuds were in. Med kit was stuffed into one of the over sized pockets on one pant leg. Her combat load vest was on. Attached to that was two ammo pouches. Checking the link on her sunglasses showed that both pouches were full with extra clips for her weapons. The machine pistol was at her side while the SMG was on its sling waiting for her to simply stand so the longcoat would help conceal the presence of both. Patting the other leg she confirmed that the tag eraser was there. She never went anywhere without it. The last thing she needed was for a tag to start broadcasting that she had recently eaten at McHughes when she wanted to stay hidden. She reached for two gloves. One was an AR glove the other a shock glove. She pulled one last ting from her smart pack, a respirator that she tucked into the inside pocket of her coat.
Satisfied she opened the door and stepped out as the fake SIN sent to her was made active on her "public" comlink. Her main 'link was running in hidden mode with its analyze and stealth programs running.
"This better be worth it." She said under her breath as she silently wished that any others who were showing up were somewhat professional. The last run she did left a lot to be desired in the help she had. With that in mind she did one last thing before entering the fast food place. She brought up the Knight Errant Self-Defense activesofts on line. Nothing like skills in a chip as she felt the program take affect.
Walking in through the door she simply gave the guard a smile. "Night shift hey omae?" She said somewhat friendly as she kept broadcasting the Fake SIN. She kept her heart rate mostly under control as the guard checked her credentials and the hardware she was carrying. Finally after what seemed like several seconds longer than it should have taken she waved her on through.
Scarlet took a quick survey of the place. It was a typical McHughes nothing special. It only took a couple of seconds to spot Springbok. Looks like I'm not the first to get here. Well that's what I get for being on the other side of the city. Seeing a route to the corner where the meet is taking place, one that would allow her to be seen, she made her way over in a non threatening way. The fact that she did so either made the point that she was careful of knew what she was doing, possibly both. She saw the young woman and the men that were either seated or standing there. She took in the others and what equipment she could see as she approached.
She could hear one of the men talking. Wearing biker gear and a long coat. She heard him giver the potential employer his gruff pitch. And what a pitch it was. He certainly won't win a miss congeniality contest. She thought as she came to a stop smiling.
"Well now I'm sure that Ms. J here is just eager to comply with your straight forward request Her voice sounded exotic and as smooth as synth silk. To any looking at her they could see a mixture of Japanese and Caucasian heritage mixed together in her features. Dark red hair was pulled back tight revealing the tell-tail pointed ears of an Elf.
Slowly she reached for a chair and slowly pulled it out and angled it so that she had some peripheral sight on the single entrance. She sat down making sure that the SMG that hung from her right shoulder smoothly and efficiently moved to where it could be taken up at a moments notice. She looked at the others and gave a single nod.
"So Ms. J is we are all here I believe you have a job for us." Again the smooth voice sounded as she spoke. Though this time it was lower pitched for those gathered. "Why don't you tell us what you need. I believe protection was mentioned.
-
(http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2011/10/shadowrun_prototype.jpg)
Eric's drone pings his network, alerting him that another vehicle, this one a Mercury Comet, has circled the building and parked in the lot. The driver... wowsers.
She turns some heads as she enters the place, not just because she's packing and broadcasting a fake corporate SIN like the rest of you, but because she's stunning.
Eric also recieves a ping on his search for Springbok; apparently she posted a thread on the Denver datahaven, asking for help. She got hounded by trolls, of the digital persuasion, but a few helpful people posted links to fixers or people they thought could be trusted. Your name turned up on that list, and so did a lot of others. The timestamp puts the conversation at a little over two hours ago- which means Springbok either forged those documents on the fly, or is good enough to have some blanks standing by. Puts her up a notch, in your estimation.
Rastire pauses as the beauty walks in through the door, and then says. "We're waiting on one more, de Tin Man." She looks around, confirming that he's not hiding among the other patrons, and tips her head, seeing him. "One more," she explains, "wouldn't want to waste your time, now."
-
Having spotted Ms. Johnson I also spot the gunners sitting across the table from her. She makes a face of astonishment/shock, so I concentrate my cyber on listening to their chat. "Are you befok?" Not sure what she's saying, but she's obviously not happy with whatever that fella' said to her. I set the bag of consumables into the helmet I'm still holding in my left hand. My right hand scratches my right thigh. Probably that holster causing it to itch, so I'll "adjust" the holster while I listen to the the discussion at the table. Oh, he's actually here for the same job. He just has the bluntness of a blind knife thrower. Enough recon.
Holy Drek! What the hell is someone like that doin' here? Either she is the bravest woman around traveling alone in this neighborhood or the dumbest. She's here for the job, too? Looks like a 50/50 split on the brave/dumb then.
A black flat top and mirrored protective eye covers turn towards the group. An Ork almost exactly 2 meters tall with a medium build walks over from the order counter. Some "Very Realistic" black hide combat boots, dark grey urban explorer armor that is well buffed except for a circle of some sort of scuffing or burn on the left breast, a helmet for the armor held in his left hand, a tan combat jacket, and the olive green visable shoulder straps of some sort of back mounted pack. He walks over, "Evenin', Ms. Johnson," walks around the table and stands in the corner with his back literally to the wall.
-
Sylvester smiles and tilts his head slightly to the left side.
“Waiting for a Tin-man huh? Is that him? I’m calling dibs on Scarecrow then, because I don’t want to end up cast as Dorthy. Unlike Steve Buscemi; I don’t think I could pull off a Mr. Pink... Reservoir Dogs? No? No one? Awwww, common guys! You gotta know your classic 2D movie history. Anyways; when we are thinking up code names, I call dibs on Scarecrow for our self appointed OZ theme.”
Sly sighs at the cultural loss and shakes his head to clear the last remnants of a nostalgic childhood.
”So, perhaps if we are all here you can fill us in on a little background information? Normally it’s a no-no in this business, but if we are protecting you; as the principle of the operation it may be helpful to know who’s bullets we will be attempting to avoid, and what direction they’ll be coming from. I’m as much a sucker for a damsel in distress as the next chap, and if the fake ID’s are part of the payment I’m in; but I’m imagining that if you’ve got heat on your tail it’ll be relevant sooner rather than later…”
Sylvester sits back, sipping his coffee and waits to listen to her pitch.
-
"If I am pushed I will push back, that is the way I am.
I [...] don't like to be pushed around.
When the chips are down we might have to step into grey areas."
- Damon Hill
Whitesnake (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvVwfA47p9A)
(http://blackgirllonghair.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Photoon20101026at21_09-vi.jpg)
Rastire's bottom lip quivers for half a second, before she bites it and steels herself.
Although you're talking over each other, she pauses to answer each of you in turn, trying to be calm and professional. A quick scan of her PAN shows that she's referring to that corporate guide that Captain Chaos put together back in 2064 for advice. Mother fraggin idiot.
"So, Mr. J, I assume we are waiting for a few others to arrive? Before we get started I’m curious as to how you got my number, I don’t mind the work, I just want to know if I owe anyone a referral bonus?"
"I don't know non of ya bale bergies, and I don't intend to. I was passing through, needed a team, and you were indicated to be of the sort that could be trusted to guard the back of a choty goty without staring at me anties."
She looks you over, even looking over her shoulder to take in the 'Tin Man' who arrived last in the group. "Ya showed up, which to me means ya're paraat."
"So why don't you tell us your problem and your offer that way I can figure out if I blew off my regular gig for some novacoke-head or I have something a bit more lucrative in my future?"
Her eyes narrow at this. "Before you get all dikbek, just remember that I sent you a SIN with nothing but your word that you'd come. I don't want to be no las, if you got other places to be, go."
"But," she pauses, waiting to make sure you're paying attention, "before you do, know that I have an agent ready to punch your poesgesig card, flag that corporate SIN with a fraud alert, and I'm sure the oom here will be quite happy to chat with you about it."
"Ja-nee? We understand each other, scrompie? You're here, and I'll pay, but you don't give me none of your lip, and I don't let these piels donner an understanding into you."
"Yes, I'm young, nooit. But I'm a shadowrunner, same as you, and I don't expect no mamparra. We chine?"
"Why don't you tell us what you need. I believe protection was mentioned."
"Aweh, I do need protection, of a sort, for a meet with domkop. I got dinges, he got the itch to buy it. It ain't gonna be no chrisco, which is why I told you come armed."
"And after, you be able to jol, and I be off to kwaai Emerald City."
"Evenin', Ms. Johnson,"
"Ya can cut that, I ain't no laanie. Springbok will do fine for my name, if you need one."
”So, perhaps if we are all here you can fill us in on a little background information?"
"I got hired for a datasteal, a maafoedi named GoblinCum. He hired me for three jobs, promised payment in full at the end of the third job, with up-front before each leg. I checked him out, he seemed legit."
"But I worked the last job, and moffie never showed up to pay me. That's just skort. Now my travel plans are moer-toe, and I got to make arrangements, nè?"
"I got word from a rooinek out here that someone wanted to buy the data, so nogal! Problem solved. Only I don't know these ouens, and I want to make sure some skelm has my back while I meet."
-
Sylvester sits back listening to Springbok as she addresses the individuals in the group.
So, she’s got a panic line to a kill switch on their ID’s. That’s actually pretty clever. Push comes to shove, and suddenly everyone here is flagged as needing a high-threat response. Poison gas and beanbag rounds for everyone. He’s suddenly happy he spent some time getting to know the locals, introducing himself and being friendly like. Naturally, he can’t say for sure what any of the security people will do, but there’s at least a glimmer of hope that Billy the Manager and Roger the security guard will hesitate before punching his ticket… oh, and maybe that manager’s keyfob can delay or deactivate the poison gas. You never can tell for sure how much ‘real’ authority the corporate types give to the local managers. The ol’ :”It didn’t work? Oh, maybe you didn’t use it right” bit is typically good for at least three incidents before the locals start to wonder.
”Well Ms. Springbok, I can’t speak for everyone, but I applaud your creative use of ‘stick’. Personally, I’m more of a ‘carrot’ guy though.”
Sylvester pauses to take a sip of his coffee.
”The job is watching your back for one handoff, fair enough. You want us to be big and scary meat-shields, or more along the lines of a secret ace in your sleeve? Either way is fine, it’s just that the price to stand under a street light wearing all chrome is just a little higher than manning a sniper station. A single low level corporate ID that’s good for free food is a nice opener, but what does our payment look like on the flipside?”
-
Feeling confident that he got the meaning behind her response. Galbraith squints a little at the threat of a fraud alert. Yeah, a gal's gotta cover her hoop, but that also shows she's got a bit of mean in her. Gotta make sure to watch the back side of this deal. Keep an eye out for her tryin' to "tie-up any loose ends."
The devil with a laser rifle sounds like he has a bit of experience in this field. If he actually knows how to use that rifle I'll probably feel a little better about this job.
-
Scarlet simply sat there and listened as Springbok responded in kind to each of them. She even let a sly smile appear when she gave the gruff man a piece of his own medicine. Agreed, way to give it back to him young one. She thought as she smiled.
She looked at the others as she spoke watching for reactions to her words as she also listened to the young woman. Her hands never strayed far from her weapons and both feet were on the floor ready to stand at a seconds notice.
Seems legit. Girl does a job. Johnson doesn't pay at the end. Still has the paydata and finds another buyer. Though now she needs some protection. Scarlet you have come a long way from your days at Renraku. She thought as she let out a very small sigh.
She listened as one of the others spoke. He had a good way with words and managed to get his point across that they might need more for this job that she might have been willing to offer. There were a couple things she could add.
"My compatriot does have some good points in reference to the ID. I believe that we are all looking at what the end of this job will bring us." She said with a nod to Sly. "With that said there are a couple other questions. What kind of time frame are we looking at on this job? Who are you meeting with? Is he or she known here in Denver and what kind of muscle do they typically employ. If he thinks your right off the bus he may try and pull a double cross in which case the job just became more dangerous." She paused for a quick second. "If you don't know the specifics maybe we might be able to help find and or fill in the blanks."
-
"My apologies." a simple response which also has a simple motion with his hand for her to keep going while he appeared to be doing something in his AR screen with his other hand.
"She talks just like the other trainee Doc had always had every angle covered. Doc let her out of training early when she thought she was ready. Doc was growing her a new arm the next week. The ones who think they have everything covered are the ones that usually get the bullet to the brainpan just as they are coming up for covering the next angle."
-
Eric stands farthest from the group, dress not too dissimilar from the college kids running around outside. You get the sense he could blend into the crowd in this area if needed. He's a little scrawny, with short styled hair and manicured facial hair. He doesn't seem intimidating in any way, but at the same time he seems to be nonchalant in his demeanor. When he speaks certain words those paying attention can pick up a slight French accent.
Etiquette roll for speaking with the group and to Springbok.
Etiquette pool 5 (Chrisma 3 + Etiquette 2)
5d6.hits(5) → [3,6,6,6,5] = (4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3576364
After taking the time to listen to everyone and gauge their personalities he finally opens up. He starts with an info drop, one he hopes Springbok pick up, just so she knows she's not working with newbies... and might calm down just a bit. "Look miss, I know you've come a long way. And at this point I think we all understand you're in a bit of a predicament." He pauses a bit, to allow everyone to absorb the sentiment. "I believe it's safe to say we're all at least a little bit interested in what you have to offer. So, let's all listen to what she has to say, shall we?" Another slight pause while he glances at the group. "Being the people that we are, we're all interested in compensation, but I'm sure we can all agree a little more detail before we discuss payment is the best path to take." He looks at Springbok. "Now miss, I'm sure we wouldn't be here if you weren't in a little bit over your head, especially being so far from home. So, let's handle this professionally, shall we? At this point in time I don't think it would be in your best interests if any of us were to walk.
-Ingo
-
“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.”
- Winston Churchill
Mood Music (http://"www.youtube.com/watch?v=22ut_pzoWgY")
(http://blackgirllonghair.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Photoon20101026at21_09-vi.jpg)
Springbok watches the group carefully, through AR glasses tinted just the slightest shade of red. She accepts Kinsey’s apology with a nod, and then turns to the business of discussing the job. Springbok seems to settle down; this part of the job she seems comfortable with.
"The information I have is valuable," she details first, "I have no idea how valuable, but I had to crack a secure node to get at it. If I didn't need the money, I'd just dump it on the Nexus and be on my way. But that flight ain't gonna pay for itself."
"I got a buyer- a local criminal; I don't know him personally, but he seemed to check out. Ties to the Casquillo. Offered to buy the data, 10,000¥. He seemed to know I was an out-of-towner, asked if I'd be okay meeting him alone. I lied, told him I had a team, which seemed to surprise him."
"I hate people underestimating me," she says, darting a glance in Kinsey's direction, "but I do love surprising them."
"Here's the deal- you come with me to the drop, keep me safe, get me on my plane. In return, I can give you half of the money, and you've already seen how good I am with fake IDs... the ones you're using I managed to put together inside an hour. Imagine what I could do with a little extra time."
Okay, so that's her pitch.
- A share of 5,000¥ in your pocket.
- A low-level corporate ID with licenses in your pocket
- A high-level fake SIN promised
-
Sylvester listens to the offer with interest.
”I must say Ms. Springbok, that your offer sounds both fair, and well thought out. Allow me to counter offer this: Seeing as how you are more shadow runner, and less ‘Mr. Johnston’: how about if you keep my share of 1,000~odd newyen, or whatever it works out to; and put just a little extra tender loving care into my second ID. I naturally won’t turn down gas money, or ammo if it comes to it, operational costs you understand; but if we are trading skill for skill, I could certainly use additional ID’s more than I could use the couple of bucks. Heck, if you threw in a third ID, if ID’s are your thing, you could keep the gas money, and assuming your going SB to Seattle, I could put you in touch with a couple of old contacts of mine in my old home town. “
OOC:
Charisma: 4 (Fame/Local: Seattle) +2
Influence (Group) 3
9d6.hits(5)=5 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3583754/)
9d6.hits(5) → [1,1,5,6,2,5,3,6,5] = (5)
Five successes, Nice! Three ID’s here I come! And I’m hoping that if she accepts the hints to Seattle I’m offering: it will encourage her to put that ‘little extra effort and care’ into her work. After all, making an ID for someone you’ll never see again, even with an honest reputation and a good work ethic will give you one result, whereas giving an ID that will be used as a reference for your overall skill and getting you into a ‘work’ environment you hope to thrive in; will be quite another thing.
-
"Your offer sounds fair to me, too. However, I do have a couple more details I'd like to ask about. First, how long do we have to prep for the meet? Second, you said the job includes getting you on a plane. When is this plane scheduled ta' leave? Tomorrow is fine, but next week's a bit much. Third, do you have a plan B if this fella' turns out to have nefar'ous ideas in mind and don't bring the cred? My Momma always said I worried too much, but I figure since I'm still alive I must be doin' somethin' right."
P.S. While he's doing this Galbraith takes his pack off his shoulders and sets it down in front of him. Then takes one burger out of the McHughs sack and puts it in his left coat pocket. Next he puts the sack into his pack making sure it is far enough down and to the side that it will not snag on the shotgun when drawn. Finally he puts the pack back on his back. (Note: he uses slightly more speed than would be normal <like 1.5 pass speed> but nowhere near his max speed <3 passes> as he does all this.)
-
"I'll drop the money down to zero except for gas, ammo, and possible equipment repair for two things. One increase the quality of this current ID you have set me up with right now. And extra tender loving care to the new SIN with licenses. I have a few questions myself but some of them might be better answered by this team than you. One for you Springbok. Where is the meet and the plane you are grabbing and when? Second Springbok brought us together for our particular skills. I will go first, I am 'blessed' with the Gift so if you wish to seek cover now or run get motoring. I have already used my all powerful woojoo... to order a sundae. Continues eating his sundae.
-
Scarlet listened as the others spoke. A delicate eyebrow raised slightly when one of the one with a fairly smooth tongue mentioned Seattle and ties that he had there. Hmm maybe I should have looked farther than Denver for a new place to set up shop. She thought as she listened to his counter offer. It was a good counter in her mind. Forgo the cred in an effort to get some extra credentials and nice ones at that.
Two more agreed or offered their own version of what they wanted their pay to be as a thought trickled through her head. If I didn't need the cred I might go for the same deal. I knew that going into debt was going to come back around sooner or later.
She gave the young woman a nod in agreement as her well practiced voice sounded out in their corner of McHughes. "Sounds good. Though I need the cred. Since he doesn't want his share I'd like half of his take of the cred. Leaving you with another 500 cred in your pocket for your trip to the North West. If you are able to upgrade this corp SIN you already sent us and have the additional new one include relevant licenses, at your leisure of course. I'll be happy." She knew the girl was under pressure to get out of Denver. To have her attempt to forge an fake SIN in a hurry would be bad and possibly lower the quality of the fake SIN.
Absentmindedly she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her left ear. "I also have some friends where you are going that could help you ease into life there." She added to sweeten the deal in an effort to get what she wanted. She continued again quickly.
Ok no die roller that I know of. Here's the breakdown for Scarlet's negotiation roll.
Charisma 7 + Negotiation 4 + Tailored Pheromones R3 + First Impression 2 = 16 dice.
Kv or Ingo can you roll dice for me/point me in the direction of a roller either onsite/offsite.
Thanks.
-
"There is nothing more requisite in business than dispatch."
- Joseph Addison
Cage the Elephant - Ain't No Rest for the Wicked (http://"www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKtsdZs9LJo&ob=av2e")
(http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/115/6/4/shadowrun_street_cafe_by_raben_aas-d4xim8w.png)
The chatter at the surrounding tables covers the noise of your conversation, and Rastire pauses to let everyone talk before she answers.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Rastire.png) "Aweh, ya have yerselves a deal," she answers, nodding to the demands- extra SINs, with licenses, seems like a great deal for everyone. The smooth-talking by Sly and Scarlet seems to carry the group, and Rastire leans forward to share information, gesturing for the 'Tin Man' to have a seat so she doesn't have to keep talking over her shoulder to converse with him.
"The meet with the bergie is to go down in about an hour, not far from here. I arranged a ride with smugglers for tonight, so if we get paid, I go. If not, we walk away, and I'll find a place to hole up until I can figure something else out."
(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs23/f/2007/340/5/7/Shadowrun_Berlin_2071_no2_by_raben_aas.jpg)
That's about as far as she gets in her speech before... something is off.
There's a squeal of displeasure from the girl playing World of Shadowcraft in the corner, "Fragging server lag, and now it shuts down?"
The newsfeeds are stopped, and even those with half-decent commlinks are having a hard time using them.
That's all the warning you get, and then a particular whine signals that time for thinking is over, and time for doing is now.
Okay, so now we're to the meat of this scenario.
The group is hitting the McHughs, and you have time for one action before initative starts.
Also, I'll need everyone to roll initiatives.
Ingo, as the hacker in residence, you know that the area is under some wide-range jamming, and any device with a Signal strength of less than 3 has an effective range of 0; this makes it difficult for your drone to answer you, although you can give it commands easily enough.
McHughs has a hard-wired LTG router and power supply, so you should be able to hack easily enough, and the guards should be able to use the PanicButtonTM and aid you in defending the place- it only has one entrance, after all.
-
Eric was enjoying the team conversation well enough when the loud complaints from other patrons piqued his interest. Running a quick search over his AR he realizes what's going on. He speaks loud enough for the rest of the gathered group to hear, but not loud enough to attract undue attention from any other patrons in case they're unfriendly. "We've got incoming, ready your PANs to receive data from me." With that he ducks behind something that will cover him from the main entrance, and activates full VR.
Matrix Initiative 11
11d6.hits(5) → [1,3,3,5,3,6,5,2,4,1,5] = (4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3585895/
Initiative Score 15, 3 passes in VR
-
Sylvester spots the signs of an impending attack at nearly the same moment the rest of the runners at the table figure it out.
This is a good group. They’ve got skills.
*Whispering to Eric as he starts his movement*
"You've got my number ombre' "
Now the hard part, decision time.
The easy decisions to make are the ones that take the most time. … Time, Distance, and Motion; the three things you want to do in order to give your self some breathing room in any confrontation.
Sylvester stands out of his chair and runs at a practiced jog to the one peace of viable cover he spotted when checking this place from top to bottom: The food preparation counter. Everything else in this place was built out of faux-crep-paper and tissue-glue.
Second step: Offensive or defensive? Is it better to have your gloves on or your gun out? Looking into his hand he sees the manager’s keyfob that sets off the Neurostun gas. Definitely better to go defensive in this environment. Dropping the keyfob into a vest pocket Sly will take his helmet out from under his arm. Sylvester dumps the helmet on his head and will start to buckle chin straps and goggles/gasmasks into their proper place.
Third step: The last and most difficult. Ignorance or Knowledge.
Shouting ‘firefight’ in a crowded building with one exit would stir up a wave of panic that could possibly smash its self to bloody bits. But notifying security could be the difference between facing the assailants alone, or being backed-up by the security guards with pistols (rubber bullets notwithstanding) Still I’d rather have my backup using rubber-bullets rather than hot coffee cups in their hands any day.
Plus, Roger did help you get to the roof earlier. I guess I owe him that much.
As he reaches the sturdy counter filled with metal pipes, fake cheese, and confused robots; right before he snaps the gas mask in place Sylvester will shout:
”ROGER! WE’VE GOT HOSTILES INBOUND! GET YOUR GUN OUT AND WATCH YOUR HOOP! EVERYONE ELSE GET DOWN NOW!”
Who knows, Maybe roger wouldn’t shoot him, and maybe the crowd would lay low and stay alive?
Initiative:
Reaction 9 + Intuition 3 = Initiative 12+??
12d6.hits(5) → [4,3,1,4,1,3,4,2,1,5,5,5] = (3)
12d6.hits(5)=3 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3585258/)
Init = 15 with 3 combat passes (move by wire 2)
-
Scarlet looked away from her new employer when she heard the exclamation from the girl in the other corner. With her field of vision now taking in a good portion of the restaurant she saw that the news feeds were now out.
Fragging great! She thought as she issued a mental command to activate her wired reflexes as she took up her SMG. Out of the corner of her eye she saw one of the guys dive for cover as his body seemed to go limp.
"Best get your head down girl. Looks as if someone decided to crash the party."
Her eyes took in the entrance. The door is a death trap for anyone assaulting this place. She paned her view around to take in more of the area.
Initiative
12d6.hits(5) → [3,5,5,2,1,4,5,1,4,2,1,6] = (4)
Initiative 12 + 4 =16 Three passes
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3585270/
Perception check (visual)
perception 4 + intuition 4 + Attention coprocessor 3 + vision enhancement 3 = 14 dice
14d6.hits(5) → [5,2,3,6,5,3,3,6,3,1,5,6,5,4] = (7)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3585274/
-
Kinsey closes his eyes and breathes softly and slowly muttering a formula of some sorts in a strange language. A small smell of ozone and slight tingle of static as he opens his eyes (or were they always open now that he is faster).
OOC:First choose my spell Increase Reflexes and then choose force (Force 4). Second make my spellcasting check which I got 4 hits (not using my sustaining focus btw) and then I have to make it through drain 3 hits so 1 stun and a -2 due sustaining.
Spellcasting: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3585756/
Drain: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3585767/
Now initative: 2 hits + 10 dice = 12 total initiative and 3 initiative passes
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3585773/
EDIT: Added OOC to quote box for clarity - Ingo
-
At Springbok's gesture Tin Man pulls his pack off his back and takes a few steps along the wall. Just far enough to be at the edge of her front arc, but still close enough to be involved. He then sets his pack at his feet with his helmet next to it.
When the whine starts Tin Man reflexively activates his enhanced reflexes. As he then moves the few steps back to Springbok he swings his armored coat off his back and over Springbok as an armored blanket. "Ya' might wanna' put that on. It'll make our jobs easier."
Initiative
12d6.hits(5) → [3,4,5,1,6,3,1,5,1,2,2,2] = (3)
Initiative 12 + 3 = 15 @ 3 passes (for tie purposes: edge 1, init 12, reactiton 7)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3587960/
-
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."
- US General George S. Patton
A Classical Arrangement by Vivaldi, just to throw you off... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtkxzuS2Cc)
(http://avelvet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bodycount_ti003.jpg)
The whine of the imminent attack reminds you of the sound mortars make just before they hit in old trideo movies. Your keenly tuned senses give you half a moment to react, and as a result you scatter like skittles hitting pavement.
Sly runs a few steps toward the front of the store, shouting for security to prepare for incoming- some of the security is even fast enough to begin reacting, turning toward the front of the store and reaching for sidearms.
Galbraith, the 'Tin Man' throws his jacket over Springbok's shoulders, giving her some protection and relieving himself of a burden that made it difficult for him to move. Rastire seems too surprised and terrified to move.
Kinsey mumbles to himself, and as he embraces his inner Zen, he sees the world slow down.
Scarlet readies her weapons, and scans the room.
Ingo drops into full VR, readying his code to slice through this place and any security hacker that might be waiting in the wings.
The resulting explosion doesn't disappoint, and punches a nice hole in the 'impenetrable walls' of the McHughs. There's shards of something, and a concussive blast bounces off of you before continuing into the store, knocking over trays, tables, and other patrons.
The explosion further galvanizes the difference between the sheep and wolves, as patrons dive to the floor in terror and begin screaming. The cute girl against the wall even tries to send out a PAN message to her friends about how scared she is. Rastire, put off balance by the explosion, somehow chooses 'flight' out of her fight or flight options, and tries to run. She's about three big steps away from the table when the drone comes through the hole in the wall, sighting in on her with a spotlight and marking her with a laser target designator. Not being too picky, the machine opens up in a wide burst, turning several tables to kindling and the people seated at them to twitching meat piles. Rastire goes down, curling beneath Galbraith's jacket.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/denver-night.png)
Clearly marked as a Renraku Kitsune-Class drone, this medium sized flying tripod is stability and power, armored and lethal. It opens fire on the area around Springbok, turning the patrons into chunky salsa and shredding Galbraith's jacket. There's almost no chance the little hacker girl survived.
Okay, so I played a dirty trick, and punched a hole in the back of the 'impenetrable security' of McHughs. Sorry for the elaborate setup, I was just trying to give you the information you asked for. Sometimes a chair is just a chair. ;D
Ingo, does Eric have reality filters on? For reference, that 'mortar' sound was a missile taking out the hardline matrix access, and backup power. This place is dark, and things are not going to go well inside. On the plus side, the security decker should have registered for a HTR team to hit this location the instant someone started jamming the area. That is, if they're not bleeding out of their eyes from Dumpshock.
Everyone resist knockdown, and then we'll start the real initiative order.
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
― Michael Gerard Tyson
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughs1.png)
-
Scarlet staggered from a blast no more than a second after telling Springbok to stay down. The force and violence of the blast forced the Elf woman to stand and take several steps back pushing her chair against the wall behind her. The blast forced her to turn to the side, ducking her head, allowing the armor of her longcoat to absorb the blast. Despite the effort she still felt the searing heat and debris, much of it McHughes food, jet past her. The table that had been between her and the blast has flipped on its side. Thoughs he doubted that it would provide much cover
"What the frag!" The curse probably and literally fell on deaf ears as the Renraku tagged drone now became visible amid the dust cloud.
Renraku they can't be here for me? She thought quickly as the the drone opens up with it's weapons turning the target area into a killzone. The girl! Despite the last minute addition of the armored jacket the former corp security specialist doubted that their young employer was still alive.
With heightened reflexes her HK-227X was brought to bear on the mechanical killing machine that just laid waste to to her immediate area. The red cross-hairs from her smartlink overlaid itself on the inhuman drone. "Check on the girl!" She yelled to the one who had been eating the ice cream as her suppressed weapon began to buck against her shoulder. She would have said more if she had the time but she hoped that the others would be competent enough to have an idea on what to do.
Free Action to change weapon mode from burst fire to full auto.
Free action to say something to Kinsey (since he's closest to Springbok)
Complex action to do a full auto +9DV attack on the drone.
17d6.hits(5) → [3,2,6,5,5,6,3,2,5,4,1,4,1,4,1,4,1] = (5)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3595443/
Agility 9 + Automatics 6 + smartlink 2 =17
So that's a 14DV attack on the drone with 5 successes to hit.
EDIT: Forgot about recoil three rounds that are uncompensated for. I need to do a reroll.
14d5.hits(5) → [4,4,4,5,5,2,1,5,2,3,2,5,2,4] = (4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3595455/
So that's a 14DV attack on the drone with 4 successes to hit.
I'm leaving both rolls up.
Edit. Grammar, spelling and tense changes.
-
Knockdown roll: Body 6
6d6.hits(5) → [6,4,5,6,5,3] = (4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3597008/
New Initiative roll: Init 12
12d6.hits(5) → [2,1,4,6,6,2,3,1,4,2,5,5] = (4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3597020/
Init 12 + 4 hits = total init 16 (still @ 3 passes...cuz I'm cool like that, I'm cool like that, I'm cool like that)
-
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
― Michael Gerard Tyson
Johnny Ramone and his siblings (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K56soYl0U1w)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/denver-night.png)
Roll for Ruski's knockdown test:
4d6.hits(5) → [5,3,3,6] = (2)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3598576/
Roll for Bull's knockdown test:
3d6.hits(5) → [4,6,4] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3598579/
Ingo doesn't really need the reality filter check, since the system crashed as he was preparing to hack it. I was just trying to figure out how to describe it, since I know Reality Filters modify the appearance of a node for a user (making the Spider disguised as a gumdrop fairy less inconspicuous than it would be in the crazy node architecture they had set up.
Updated Map:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughs1a.png)
Initiative Order:
Scarlet: 16 @ 3 passes
Sly: 15 @ 3 passes
Galbraith: 15 @ 3 passes
Dubois: 15 @ 3 passes (VR)
Kinsey: 12 @ 3 passes - Prone
I need first pass-actions from everyone.
-
Eric reaches out to the drone, telling it who's boss.
Hacking the drone, then I'm going to command it to shut down. If it's not destroyed in the firefight I might have a free drone :O
Hack on the fly + Edge Extended test vs. target's firewall
Hacking 5 + Exploit 4 + Edge 2 = 11
11d6.hitsopen(5,6) → [[6, 4],5,5,[6, 4],4,5,5,3,4,[6, 1],5] = (8 )
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3598639/
Note: I rolled a couple of times, I wasn't sure I got the syntax right for open 6's the first time and got an error the second time.
[/OOC]
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Initiative pass 1: complex action-don & clear my gas mask.
Unless it takes more than a complex action. If I need to correct this please let me know.
-
The whine of a mini-gun’s rotating barrels spitting fire was pretty much the only thing anyone in the room would be able to hear after the coordinated and eardrum rupturing explosion a half-second earlier.
Sadly, the well machined whine of the barrels coming up to speed was probably what they heard through the wall, giving his small group the only half-second warning they received that death was imminent.
Sylvester’s last step was pushed twice as far after the concussive blast of the wall opening explosion. Curiously he landed on his feet; a surprise to himself, and the approximately 0 people paying attention to him.
Time to process the new information:
First off: wounded? No. well, not yet anyways. At least one mini-gun is active; probability of other equally hostile forces showing up is super high. Are you still moving? No. Should I be? Yes… Keep to the original plan. That counter is still the only thing in the room that’ll stop a bullet, and the mini-gun fire will need to go somewhere after ventilating their would-be employer. Time to step up the pace though; I need to be the moving-est moving target that ever moved a moving move.
Sylvester will sprint the remaining distance to the counter, working in a left fake shift and half-duck to the right in the short distance before he bodily throws himself over and behind the counter.
Will it look silly? Yes. Will the extra effort be wasted? Probably. Could it save his life? Maybe. Still going to do it? Definitely.
If he has time after his impromptu athletics display he’ll finish the last buckle on his gas-mask that got interrupted so rudely earlier by explosion and death.
-
An old quote runs through his head as Kinsey started moving. "If you can't run then walk. If you can't walk then crawl. If you can't crawl then find someone to carry you." He had very little intention of doing any part except the first as he started crawling then standing moving towards the counter.
OOC: It is Kinsey intention to get up and run and get behind the counter possibly the most solid piece of material in the building. However he isn't going to go for a straight line but a staggered one putting as many bodies between him and that drone. I am at a -2 for my actions since I am still sustaining a spell.
-
And that's why my cyberears have dampeners! 'Course they work great for ex-girlfriends, too, but there's no time for that now.
Damn it, girl! I didn't give ya' my coat to make you bullet proof. Just to give you a little more cover. You seemed smarter than that. Maybe you've jus' never dealt with heavy weapons before.
Logic 5 + Security Design 3 = 8
8d6.hits(5) → [2,5,1,2,6,3,5,5] = (4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3600857/
McHughs generally has pretty decent security, but that much damage combined with the matrix and power now being sketchy at the best means that there's a good chance that the standard security measures won't kick in. Normally, the first thing I'd worry 'bout would be to make sure that if I'm still breathing in 30 seconds I'm not gonna' kill myself doing that breathing. Right now, though, I'm bettin' I've got some time before they get their drek back together and the security online. Time to do something that means I might still breathing in 30 seconds to worry about whether the air is something I want to be breathing.
Tin Man's actions: simple-move back over to his pack closer to the hole in the wall / simple-draw his shotgun / free-activate his smartlink.
-
“Reality continues to ruin my life.”
― Bill Watterson
Foster the People (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDTZ7iX4vTQ)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/denver-night.png)
Initiative Order:
]Drone: 16 @ 3 passes – full auto wide burst on Rastire
Scarlet: 16 @ 3 passes – full-auto long burst, 14DV w/4 successes
Sly: 15 @ 3 passes – finish getting behind cover, buckle on gas mask
Galbraith: 15 @ 3 passes – retrieve pack, get shotgun
Dubois: 15 @ 3 passes (VR) – Brute-force attack on Drone Firewall
Kinsey: 12 @ 3 passes - Prone, movement
Drone Rigger:
Initiative: 11d6.hits(5) → [2,4,6,3,3,6,6,6,1,2,5] = (5) (16 total)
Dodge versus Scarlet’s attack (Rigger Reaction(5) + Drone Handling(0), per SR4A, pg 170), +2 dice for Rigger running Hot Sim (SR4A, 245):
7d6.hits(5) → [1,5,1,4,6,5,3] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3612787/
So -3 success leaves the attack with 1 successes. 15DV. Ouch, that’s a lot of damage.
Renraku Kitsune (Upgraded Nissan Roto-Drone)
Handling +0, Accel 10/25, Speed 100, Pilot 3, Body 5, Armor 6, Sensor 3, Avail 12, Cost 20,000¥
Damage Soak, the Rigger will reach into the Professional pool (5 dice, for being Red Samurai) for this one; Body (5) + Armor (6) + Professional Pool (5):
16d6.hitsopen(5,6) → [3,2,1,2,[6, 3],[6, 5],5,1,3,1,1,4,4,[6, 4],2,[6, 5]] = (7)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3612781/
Holy Crap. Even with 7 hits, the drone takes 8 boxes of damage. It’s -3 on all future actions, and -1 for defending against Scarlet’s lead rain this round.
The rigger has to resist the hot biofeedback (7DV vs Will (4) + Biofeedback Filter(3)).
7d6.hits(5) → [5,3,4,6,1,2,6] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3612791/
So the Rigger has her own 4 boxes of damage, basically undoing all the good she’s getting through being hooked into Hot VR.
Scarlet
Scarlet points the muzzle at the awkward drone almost contemptuously- if this is someone coming for her, they certainly haven’t done their homework. She’s taken down better than this rusty can with worse backup.
Of course, in that instance her backup actually had her back, rather than sprinting for freedom.
Smartlink confirms a firing solution, causing her muscles to contract to keep the spray within the field of fire. A logistic routine notes several rounds missing the shell or ricocheting off of the armor- perhaps this model has been upgraded?
The drone should have been blown out of the air- but despite breached armor and leaking fluids, and the sparks emitting at a fairly constant pace from the rear turbine, the Kitsune is still in the air. Which makes it somewhat sinister as the drone rotates to face her, the searchlight illuminating its own smoke at this point.
Sly
| (http://manupchicago.com/wp-content/uploads/infusion-project-chicago-art/Gas-Mask-Skateboard-Art.jpg) |
Sly finishes his sprint, hearing the chatter of machine gun fire as he locks his mask into place. He’s comforted by the familiar smell of his gas mask- the scent that comes from often using it, not the sterile smell of rubber or the stinking sweat of neglect, but the often worn and cleaned smell of abrax and aftershave.
The head fake and juke probably aren’t strictly necessary, but any metahuman trying to line up a bead on his back would be frustrated as he slides behind cover. The counter is the one real piece of cover in the entire room, unless someone wants to hunker down in the bathroom, and Sly tries to gesture for Roger to get behind cover. There are few rules more certain on the battlefield than ‘If someone is firing a machine gun, get down.’
|
Galbraith
The ‘Tin Man,’ tries not to look at the body of the girl- not much he could do for her, given that he doesn’t have a time machine or the ability to grant wishes, so he moves toward the next order of business- survival; that was the first order of business, too- truth be known, it came up a lot.
It’s well known how polite and professional McHugh’s security is; they pride themselves on it, and a recent customer survey ranked the security at McHughs below Emergency Services like firefighters, but above Security Corps like Lonestar and KnightErrant, and much higher than the local ZDF. It wasn’t common knowledge what happened when that security wasn’t enough, though; you had to have specialized information to know what happened then. Usually, a wall came down, sealing off the front door. The security decker, called a Spider, would trigger alerts if the physical security and management were unable to. As soon as the incident was noticed, the spider would log it and notify a High-Threat-Response team to come in and ‘pacify’ unruly customers in the safest and most polite way possible. Knowing that the missile took out the power and matrix node made that a little easier- maybe the spider was fried, maybe not, but it would have triggered some alerts.
As the machine and the yamanba trade fire, Galbraith heads to his duffel on the floor and grabs his shotgun, allowing the smartlink to warm to the weapon and waiting a few milliseconds for the targeting display and ammo loadout to appear in his retinal display before proceeding.
Dubois
Eric mentally cracks his knuckles as he prepares code- using a flaw in the firewall known well to those in the correct circles, a problem with the tensing protocol for the Renraku Ichi operating system. Possibly just a language problem, but it was rumored that the code was a backdoor put in by an angry former programmer after his firing.
Of course, who knew the truth? There was just the beauty of the code, the pure mathematical genius of it all. That’s why it’s so disappointing when the code falls flat- hitting a hole in the wall and yet still blocked. Within the node, Eric can see a carton samurai, wearing red armor and wielding a katana made of flame. The Icon can only be another programmer, and this fool’s firewall is blocking your access. Of course, trying to access the drone like that just rang his PAN and let him know you’re here.
Kinsey
The twin streams of machinegun fire are deafening- it’s impossible to tell who is winning, and who is losing, aside from everyone in danger from the bullets whipping around at the speed of sound.
Lucky for Kinsey, he’s moving quite a bit faster than his normal self, although he can feel a headache brewing behind his eyes with the effort of casting and maintaining the spell. The edge is worth it, though, and as he gets to his feet, Kinsey zigs to the right, headed behind the security guards and toward the food prep counters, where the plascrete and metal will give a decent amount of cover.
Running in the pattern left him out in the open, exposed, and the security who had turned toward the front door at the shout of danger now turned toward the rear of the resteraunt with surprised ‘o’s forming on their faces.
Okay, I think that’s everything.
Sorry about the recycled picture, Photobucket was down for 'maintenance,' and I couldn't do anything about it. I'll post positions tomorrow when the site is fixed, hopefully. Next actions!
EDIT: Fixed table to show Sly's text below the image rather than to the side. - Ingo
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DREK that elf's fast! 'An I thought I could move. She drew and sprayed that flying death machine before I could even get to my Remi'. Accurately enough to cause some noticable damage, too. (Or maybe it was just the kinda' luck that you only see in the 'vids? Doubt it.) Are those other two running away or running for cover? Maybe the rest of us can still get this thing dropped before anybody else dies.....
These actions assume that the drone is still active by the time I get my turn (if not then I'll figure out something else):
Free Action - chamber a round
Simple Action - Aim for a weak spot that is either sparking or leaking fluid
Simple Action - fire shotgun into a vital area
Agility 7 + Longarms 4 + Smartlink 2 + Aiming 1 - Targeting vital area 4:
10d6.hits(5) → [5,2,4,1,4,5,1,5,1,4] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3613894/
AP -1, DV 7 + 4 (vital area) + hits
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Sylvester landed hard on his back, shoulder blades and elbows taking the most of his impact with terra firma on the ‘safe’ side of the counter.
Safety?
Check.
Someone else providing distraction?
Judging by the sounds of battling fully-automatic weaponry going mono-e-mono that was covered too.
Well: his own hoop was covered, so now was the time to see about pulling a few other hoops out of the fire.
Sylvester spins on the dust covered floor, strange how one little wall getting demolished ruined what was a perfectly waxed floor ten seconds ago.
Clumsily getting his legs under himself he draws his laser rifle from its shoulder sling and sets himself up a makeshift tri-pod with the countertop as the pivot.
Reduced cross section of visibility/vulnerability, a stable crouched firing platform, and a recoilless rifle (it got hot after a shot, but that little warmth was nothing compared to the kicking bronco of weapons powered by gunpowder explosions) should make for a rather accurate 10 shots of emerald-green sun-shiny goodness.
Now, things were going to get interesting…
-
Running the rest of the distance to get behind cover of the counter. Drawing his pistol he lets the others worry about the drone and activates his mage sight. "Just one drone isn't our biggest worry it's probably just a distraction." Stripping off his long coat and setting it up on the counter as some extra cover and a more comfortable firing position. Taking the time to look out the doors that are probably not in a locked position.
OCC: Not sure how many actions that will be but most of them are simple I believe. However I don't think I will get all these actions at once.
Free action: Run, Simple action? Take cover, Simple Action: Ready Weapon, Simple action: Observe in detail.
Perception: Intuition + Perception + Enhancements (3 dice as Astral sight doesn't gain me any bonuses)
3d6= 4,3,3 (no successes no glitches)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3614254/
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After realizing what happened, Eric attempts to jam the signal to the drone.
Jam on the Fly
EWAR 2 + Signal 6 = Pool of 8
8d6.hits(5) → [4,5,3,6,2,1,6,4] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3614620/
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If she hadn't been concentrating on unloading on the drone Scarlet might have raised an eyebrow at the sight of the fleeing patrons. Unfortunately it seemed like the other runners were among them. Frag I had better not have to do this all by myself! She thought as the last round left the business end of her weapon.
From the information that her smartlink was providing ten rounds had been fired. From the looks of the effort was worth it. Sparks flew from the rear of the machine as fluids stained the floor. No matter how one looked at it there was going to be one hell of a mess to clean up. A mess that she wasn't going to be around for or have to answer questions about.
She could see that the others had either made it to cover and or had drawn a weapon. There was one problem she had gotten the drones attention in a big way as it rotated towards her. If anyone has been looking at her they might have seen the slight smile that crossed her face as she wondered how the rigger was feeling after her onslaught of lead. Well their about to feel it again. She thought as she sent the mental command again to fire. This time though it was only six rounds. With it pretty badly damaged it wouldn't take much more to down the drone and hopefully take out the rigger as well.
"Anyone have eyes outside." She yelled to the others as she looked at the breach trying to see who or what else might be outside. Scarlet took a few steps to the side away from the one she assumed was the Hacker who looked to be taking a nap amid the battle that sprung up. She was hoping to keep him out of the field of fire.
Free action to yell to the others.
Simple action to observe in detail
14d5.hits(5) → [5,1,3,2,3,1,1,2,1,4,4,3,2,2] = (1) Bleh!
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3615252/
Perception 4 + Intuition 4 + Attention Coprocessor 3 + Vision enhancement 3 = 14 dice
Simple action to fire a Long burst. +5 DV to the attack. All recoil is compensated.
17d6.hits(5) → [4,1,4,1,6,4,6,3,6,1,4,4,4,4,4,5,6] = (5)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3615246/
Agility 9 + Automatics 6 + smartlink 2 =17
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Positions at start of round:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughs1a1.png)
"Plans are nothing; planning is everything."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
My Body is A Cage (http://youtu.be/Qsox-MIKLkQ)
Initiative Order:
Drone: 16 @ 3 passes – Full Auto Wide Burst on Scarlet (6DV, -1AP, 2 Successes, Wide Burst -5 dice for Scarlet's defense)
Scarlet: 16 @ 3 passes – Long burst, XX DV w/5 successes
Sly: 15 @ 3 passes – set up Laser Rifle
Galbraith: 15 @ 3 passes – Shotgun @ Drone; AP -1, DV 7 + 4 (vital area) + hits (3)
Dubois: 15 @ 3 passes (VR) – Jam on the Fly
Kinsey: 12 @ 3 passes - Get behind cover, ready pistol
Renraku Kitsune (Upgraded Nissan Roto-Drone)
Handling +0, Accel 10/25, Speed 100, Pilot 3, Body 5, Armor 6, Sensor 3, Avail 12, Cost 20,000¥
Drone takes 8 boxes of damage. It’s -3 on all future actions, and -1 for defending against future attacks
Rigger has her own 4 boxes of damage, negating Hot Stim
Drone Attack - Spraying Scarlet's area with lead showers
Wide Burst (SR4A, 154) -5 Dice Modifier for Scarlet to avoid attack
Renracu Kitsune drone is using a Renracu-equivalent of a GE Vindicator Minigun
Damage: 6P AP: -1 Mode: FA (Regular Caseless Ammunition)
Luckily that means it has to carry a lot of bulky ammunition and can't keep up this firing rate forever.
If he was remote Controlling: Drone Pilot (3) + Clearsight Autosoft (3) + Hotsim (2) + Damage (-3) + Rigger wounds (-2) = 3
Since she's jumped in: Drone Sensor (3) + Gunnery (5) + Hotsim (2) + Damage (-3) + Rigger wounds (-2) = 5
5d6.hits(5) → [1,4,6,4,6] = (2)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3621603/
That's 6DV, with 2 successes, with Scarlet taking a -5 to her defense to avoid it.
I think I'll let Scarlet/Yogi roll defense and let other people revise their actions as they see fit.
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Roll for the dodge.
Reaction 8 - 5 = 3 dice pool
3d6.hits(5) → [2,6,5] = (2)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3622247/
I think the 2 hits will negate the attack but here's a damage resistance test just in case.
Damage soak
Body 4 + FFBA half suit 4 + Lined Coat 6 = 14
14d6.hits(5) → [4,4,3,4,2,3,5,2,2,1,5,2,3,6] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3622252/
Spending edge to reroll failures
14 pool - 3 successes = 11 pool
11d6.hits(5) → [5,2,5,5,4,2,1,4,6,5,6] = (6) Should of had this the first time.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3622264/
Like I mentioned if the two successes for the dodge negate the attack, dismiss the damage rolls.
Her attack should still go though I believe.
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“The spread of civilization may be likened to a fire; First, a feeble spark, next a flickering flame, then a mighty blaze, ever increasing in speed and power.”
- Nikola Tesla
Ode to Joy (http://youtu.be/XFX8S9aAgvw)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Sparks.png)
Initiative Order:
Drone: 16 @ 3 passes – Full Auto Wide Burst on Scarlet (6DV, -1AP, 2 Successes, Wide Burst -5 dice for Scarlet's defense)
Scarlet: 16 @ 3 passes – Long burst, 10 DV w/5 successes
Sly: 15 @ 3 passes – set up Laser Rifle
Galbraith: 15 @ 3 passes – Shotgun @ Drone; AP -1, DV 7 + 4 (vital area) + hits (3)
Dubois: 15 @ 3 passes (VR) – Jam on the Fly
Kinsey: 12 @ 3 passes - Get behind cover, ready pistol
Renraku Kitsune (Upgraded Nissan Roto-Drone)
Handling +0, Accel 10/25, Speed 100, Pilot 3, Body 5, Armor 6, Sensor 3, Avail 12, Cost 20,000¥
Drone takes 8 boxes of damage. It’s -3 on all future actions, and -1 for defending against future attacks
Rigger has her own 4 boxes of damage, negating Hot Stim
Dodge versus Scarlet’s attack (Rigger Reaction(5) + Drone Handling(0), per SR4A, pg 170) - 3 dice for Damage = 2:
2d6.hits(5) → [1,6] = (1) Ooh, a glitch!
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3624875/
Damage Soak for the poor little drone who only wanted to kill all humans...
Body (5) + Armor (6) = 11:
11d6.hits(5) → [6,1,2,5,5,5,4,4,5,5,5] = (7)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3624881/
Nope, d-e-d.
The sparks fly from the rear rotor as the drone comes about, spoiling the image of an omnipotent dealer of medaron. It's a simple enough tactic to avoid the gunfire- lateral movement is all that's required, as the pivoting rotor is the most heavily damaged.
Lining up the shot on the shuddering drone is easy- almost as if the fight had gone out of the thing. Scarlet hopes that the hacker is still in there as she sends the mental command to fire, spraying the machine and downing it, the drone crashing to the floor and causing a secondary detonation as some of the remaining ammunition in the bot misfires.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughs1a2.png)
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Note to self: don't go straight up with the elf. You don't own enough armor. Let's see what the other neighbors have to say 'bout this?
Tin Man will cover the new back door.
Simple Action: Keeping his Remy' targeted at the hole he will carefully move up to the hole, but not enough to silhouette himself.
Simple Action: Looking (out the edge he can see through from behind the wall) & listening out the hole - Observe in Detail:
Intuition 5 + Perception 4 = 9
9d6.hits(5) → [4,2,6,5,3,3,4,4,4] = (2)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3626949/
OOC: Of course, he's only going that close if he does NOT see anybody lined up near the hole for entry as he moves up. If there is a tactical team staged for entry then the second action would change to: Simple action Fire shotgun
Agility 7 + Longarms 4 + Smartlink 2
13d6.hits(5) → [5,2,2,4,2,2,3,3,2,1,4,2,4] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3626975/
-
What Galbraith Sees:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Denver-Alleys.png)
-
Is this some drekkin' joke? Cuz I ain't laughin'. Is all this 'bout that li'l gal's paydata or is this just the universe's idea of funny? If so, we're gonna have words when this is over.
Free Action: "APC runnin' low-light! NOW!!!"
3rd pass intent
Simple Action: fire shotgun @ the gun turret looking for a weak spot
Agility 7 + Longarms 4 + Smartlink 2 - targeting vital area 4 = 9
9d6.hits(5) → [5,3,6,2,5,4,1,6,5] = (5)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3631086/
Damage: AP -1, DV 7 + 4 + hits (5 - dodge if applicable)
OOC: If that's not enough.....
Simple Action: Rinse. Repeat.
Agility 7 + Longarms 4 + Smartlink 2 - targeting vital area 4 = 9
9d6.hits(5) → [4,3,5,3,1,5,4,6,2] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3631095/
Damage: AP -1, DV 7 + 4 + hits (3 - dodge if applicable)
OOC: If the 1st one was enough to eliminate the turret then the 2nd shot will go for the driver if he can see him or any spot that looks vulnerable on the vehicle.
-
Moving behind the planter and leaning out Kinsey begins the gestures subconciously. Even though the others can't see it the faint glow of defensive power is over himself, the elf and the yelling one. He couldn't see the girl or the guy in the mask but that couldn't be his problem right now. He had way too much on his mind with the headache brewing in the base of his skull, the sustained spell and this wonderful shit storm.
OOC: Counterspelling is my free action taking a moment to observe through the he if I can is my simple action.
-
"As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death."
- Leonardo Da Vinci
Heroes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAYfooxaNh8)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Denver-Alleys-1.jpg)
The good news is that you all survived the drone.
Bad news: the drone wasn't the main foil for the scene.
New Friends:
Initiative: 9d6.hits(5) → [5,3,5,2,2,2,6,3,4] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3631255/
Scarlet: 16 @ 3 passes – Long burst, 10 DV w/5 successes
Sly: 15 @ 3 passes – set up Laser Rifle
Galbraith: 15 @ 3 passes – Shotgun @ Drone; AP -1, DV 7 + 4 (vital area) + hits (3)
Dubois: 15 @ 3 passes (VR) – Jam on the Fly
New Friends: 12 @ 3 passses - Enter, Stage Left.
Kinsey: 12 @ 3 passes - Ready Counterspell, Go Astral, Observe
Ares Citymaster (Riot Control Vehicle)
Handling –1 Accel 5/30 Speed 120 Pilot 3 Body 16 Armor 20 Sensor 3 Avail 20R Cost 51,200¥
Galbraith's shot pings harmlessly off the armor of the riot control vehicle- it's a Renracu knock-off of the ARES Citymaster, but a rose by any other name would smell just as sweetly. The ricochet takes out a part of the plascrete wall it hits.
Oddly, the turret doesn't turn to target Galbraith, or even point toward the hole in the wall- it's pointed upward, and you get the vague uneasy sense that its waiting for something. The walls of the vehicle facing the entry point slams open, showing a little light from inside the vehicle as well as revealing the four figures in hardened full body armor and a full-head helmet, red like wet blood and styled after Japanese samurai. Each one is carrying an FN HAR assault rifle and a katana, as though anyone would doubt a person in red Samurai armor meant business.
These scary mother-fraggers are the Renracu Red Samurai.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/RenrakuRedSamurai.jpg)
The businesslike march of these men (or women- hard to tell, with that much ballistic kevlar) brings them toward the entrance.
Dubois
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Black_Hole_3_by_Iggwilv.jpg) | The Node here is in shambles- barely an ad hoc network from employee comms- few, if any security guards upgrade their commlink. Aside from Eric's signal, there's the cute girl that was playing World of Shadowcraft earlier, although she seems to be spending her adrenaline-enhanced terror posting to social networks about how scared she is.
Eric can feel the arrival of the jammer- it's a full-on Node built into... maybe a drone or something. It's piping out red-hot BTL at the moment for anyone with an open AR connection, talking about how Renracu is dedicated to making the world a safer and better place; on the official channels it's playing an emergency broadcast message; and to the authorities, particularly the ZDF it's sending the legal equivalent of a Frag Off- a dense legal document defining this activity as protected enforcement under the Shiawase Decision; protection and recovery of corporate property or persons, or defense of same.
No help is coming, and if they do, it'll be an all-out drek storm. |
Kinsey
Kinsey can feel the astral energy burning through him- sustaining a spell is like trying to recite the alphabet backwards while juggling. It's not impossible, but it would be much easier if everyone else would just sit the frag down and be quiet so you could think.
The joker in the pest extermination suit is on Kinsey's left, and the ork shouting by the hole in the wall is calling out incoming. The lethal elf with her own assault rifle is near the original table, not exposed in the middle of the floor, but not behind any decent cover, either.
Jamming the astral with mana static is easy- and it'll keep anyone from nuking the area with a manaball. It's not even hard to maintain, although Kinsey had heard that it was hard on electronics to be around a mage pumping out this much energy. That could just be a trideo thing, though, sometimes it was hard to tell what was made up and what was real. | (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/astral.png) |
Drifting into the astral phase, Kinsey can see the auras of the people around him- not the surreal never-night world of the astral that he was used to- this place was polluted with the terror of the patrons, and decades of banal patrons buying tasteless food that wasn't good for them. Not enough to make mana-slinging more difficult, just enough to itch under your skin.
The walls have been reinforced with the happy childhood memories of many kids seeing clowns and amorphous purple blobs, so there's a sense of where the walls of the establishment are, but it takes some concentration to figure out whom is who from the way you've seen them before.
The guards pulse with tightly controlled fear, and an overwhelming sense of duty- not hard to pick out. Your fellow runners are all different shades of desperate, but no more so than the other patrons, they just seem to be managing it better. If you hadn't marked them with part of your manaflow, it would be hard to pick them out of the crowd.
Lastly, there are five people outside, approaching rapidly. Whatever they're arriving in is highly technological or brand new, because it's nearly invisible in the astral, and the five look as though they arrive seated several feet off of the ground, like on a magic carpet. It would be amusing, if they didn't have the wrecked auras of someone with too much cyberwear, and the determination to kill- to murder.
Oops, I forgot an updated map:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughs1a3.png)
-
Sylvester slides his laser rifle across the counter top as he side-steps to the right, making room to his left. He never takes his eyes off of the opening, nor does he let the barrel point in any other direction but down range.
Turning his head he takes a deep breath to shout through the muffling baffles of the gas mask. The mask always made him sound like some crazy ‘Secret Agent James Bond’ villain, but with the explosion in the past and the machine gun fire taking a short recess break it would at least be possible to be heard.
”Roger! It’s not over yet! Get behind cover here with me and tell your buddies to get some of their own; that drone was just the opening act, not the grand finale! ”
-
"We need eyes outside" Eric thinks to himself, as he reaches out tries to grab a hold of the APC. If he can get in he should be able to disable the jammer and manipulate the vehicle to the team's advantage... or at least be a distraction.
Hack on the fly + Extended test vs. target's firewall
Hacking 5 + Exploit 4 = 9
9d6.hits(5) → [2,3,3,2,3,4,2,1,5] = (1)
Ick! Well, at least it's not a glitch :P
Gain control of the APC, maybe use the turret on the red samurai? At least the rigger has some minuses at this point :P
-
Updated 2nd Simple action: move back the few steps to his pack
Free action: safety the shotgun
-
Almost unconciously shrugging his mage sight off he looks again and simply points his finger around the planter. Doc never got why he did it he didn't either but he still needed something to help 'focus his will' so to speak. Usually an open hand was all he needed for a manaball. But a manabolt is more like a firing a bullet. Thankfully it a lot more accurate than a gun and all that beautiful red armor did was absolutely nil. Also no need to advertise his entire arsenal in a night. Hell, his paycheck was going to be getting out alive. Also he wasn't sure on the range of how far from the two guys by the wall and the APC. And he really didn't want to piss off that elf. All that running through his head as he felt that magic bullet forming and then letting it fly.
Steps to Casting"
1. Choose the Spell you wish to cast at the target
The spell you're casting is Manabolt (SR4A, pg 204)
Type: M Range: LOS Damage: P Duration: I DV: (F/2)
If you wanted to trade your hard-target physical damage spells for stun spells, they work equally well, and with a little less burn on the brainpan. For Instance: Stunbolt (SR4A, pg 205)
Type: M Range: LOS Damage: S Duration: I DV: (F/2) - 1
2. Choose the Force for the spell, up to twice your magic rating
You chose Force 5, equal to your Magic Rating. I'm using the sheet here (http://ingomonk.bullhonkie.com/forums/index.php?topic=2664.msg72018#msg72018) for reference.
3. Add you Magic to your pool
Magic 5
4. Add your Spellcasting to your pool
Spellcasting (Spec: Combat Spells) 5 (7)
5. Add the bonus for your mentor spirit to your pool, if applicable.
You don't have a mentor spirit, but this is one area where I think it would be beneficial- when I'm playing a mage, looking through the mentors and figuring out which ones would work and which ones wouldn't also helps me to get a handle on the character. Still, you have 12 dice at this point, not too shabby.
6. Add the bonus for a Spellcasting Focus to your pool, if it is of the correct type and you do not wish to save it to resist drain later.
You have a Spellcasting Focus (Combat) (Force 2). For bookkeeping purposes, I'm going to save that for Drain later.
You also have a Sustaining Focus (Health) (Force 2), which I would have recommended using to sustain your Increased Reflexes spell. More on that in a bit.
7. Subtract any Wound modifiers (or modifiers from sustained spells) from the pool.
Kinsey took 1 stun damage while casting Increased Reflexes at the start of combat (http://ingomonk.bullhonkie.com/forums/index.php?topic=2721.msg72279#msg72279). He's also sustaining Increased Reflexes for a -2 penalty, with no reason that I understand, so let's go ahead and move that to his Sustaining Focus.
8. Roll your pool dice, add up your Hits. If you glitch, tell the gamemaster.
Magic (5) + Spellcasting/Combat Spells (7) + Wound (-1) = 11 Dice
11d6.hits(5) → [5,1,6,1,4,2,4,6,5,3,6] = (5)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3637966/
9. Take the lesser of your Hits and the spell's Force; this is your Actual Hits Total.
In this case, the number of hits (5) is the same as the Spell's force (5), so there's nothing to worry about. Typically, you take the lesser of the two options, which gives a good reason to not just cast at low force and pump it up with a big dicepool.
10. If the spell is resisted, and your target is living, the GM will roll resistance pool and subtract from your actual hits. If your target is non-living, the GM will compare your actual hits to the threshold. If your actual hits is reduced to zero or less (in the former case), or if your actual hits falls short of the threshold (in the latter case), skip to step 12.
Resistance for Mana spells is Willpower. If this had been a physical spell, not only would the target get to resist with Body, but he or she would also be allowed to use armor to resist damage.
In this case, we're going to say you targeted one of the 'lowly normal' Red Samurai instead of the Lieutenant. The target has a willpower of 4, and will roll to resist damage normally.
4d6.hits(5) → [3,3,1,4] = (0)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3637967/
11. Tell the GM your Actual Hits, and the Force of the Spell. Your GM will determine the effect of the spell.
The red samurai rolled a glitch on her Damage Resistance, so in addition to taking 5 boxes of damage, we'll say one of the target's implants stops working- 1d6 (5) so her Muscle Toner begins functioning ineffectively, and she loses 1 dice to Agility tests. We'll leave her at the same initiative, for the sake of bookkeeping, but she's going to regret that here in a little while.
Resisting Drain
12. Start a new pool, add your Willpower to it.
Willpower (4)
13. Add the Attribute that your tradition uses to resist Drain.
Kinsey is a straight-up Mage, and resists with Logic (3)
14. If you did not add your Spellcasting Focus rating to your spellcasting pool, add it now.
Here's your bonus (+2). That's why we saved it for later.
15. Roll your pool dice. Subtract one from the Drain Damage value for each hit.
Note that this pool is not reduced due to sustaining a spell or wound modifiers. This is important- and a detail I had missed before this game; damage resistance rolls are almost never subject to modifiers.
Anyway, Drain Value for Manabolt is F/2. Drain is rounded down (SR4a, pg 203, 'Drain Value'). Force 5 / 2 = 2.5 rounded down to 2. Kinsey needs to resist 2 drain.
Kinsey has Willpower (4) + Logic (3) + Sustaining Focus (2) = 9
9d6.hits(5) → [5,6,2,6,4,1,4,3,1] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3637974/
16. If you did not reduce the Drain Damage value to zero, apply the damage to your condition monitor; physical if the force was greater than your Magic rating, stun otherwise.
Kinsey resist with zero drain, after inflicting 5 damage to a badass Renracu Red Samurai without breaing a sweat.
-
Obviously I need more power. I wish I had that .50 cal I saw in that old trid last week. I guarantee they'd feel it if I shot them with that. Well, like Granny always says, "Wish in one hand and...."
Free Action: Drop the 'Remy
Simple Action: Pull the MA-2100 out of the bag
Simple Action: Chamber a round
Free Action: Connect Smartlink to MA-2100 while chambering the round
-
Preparations only get you so far in any fire-fight.
A good exit plan, Decent cover, and a stable firing platform could individually make or break any given combat; but the only way you could see what difference it made was to live through said combat… and the only way to do THAT; was to shoot the other guy before he shot you.
That made first shots very important. For most people: the first round always ends up going wild: after that training kicks in and you remember that you can’t just squeeze the trigger wildly when you see any sort of target.
However: most gunfights last about 20 seconds, according to the law-enforcement numbers published last year. And that includes walking over to kick the corpse and make sure he’s really dead, and just not faking it.
So: here’s where the plan hits reality.
Red Samurai: the height of killer professionals. No warning shots, no negotiations, just hate and death vs. death and hate.
Don’t rush it. They are breaching. As they rush through the fatal funnel they cross the most dangerous part of entry for them. No cover to speak of, and all their eggs in one proverbial basket. Oh what I wouldn’t give for a grenade right about now…
Oh well: focus on what you’ve got. Don’t jerk the trigger, send the fire command mentally don’t grasp at straws, these guys are fast, they aren’t going to stand around and yell at civilians. It’s a moving target, aim for what you can hit. Center mass? Maybe try to go up high on the chest, may get lucky and melt their facemask in, or burn out their throat.
All you can do is all you can do.
Aim for vulnerable spot.
Firearms: 4 // Agility 7 // +2 dice (Smartlink) // +1 Dice-pool (Personilized grip & various mods)// +1 dice (Aim)// Vital-area called shot -4 dice pool (+4 weapon damage) //
= (11) dice (unless you want to give me extra for my stable firing platform.)
Laser Rifle: 5P vs. half armor. (upgrade to 9P for vulnerable shot)
11d6.hits(5) → [1,2,6,1,5,1,3,5,3,5,2] = (4)
11d6.hits(5)=4 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3646144/)
Use Edge to re-roll failures.
5d6.hits(5) → [4,6,4,4,2] = (1)
5d6.hits(5)=1 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3646145/)
Resist:
5 successes at 9P vs. half their armor.
-
Eric continues trying to take control of the APC
Hack on the fly + Extended test vs. target's firewall
Hacking 5 + Exploit 4 = 9
9d6.hits(5) → [3,1,6,1,1,3,4,1,2] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3652244/
Oh God! One more 1 and that would have been a glitch! Invisible Castle doesn't seem to like me much lately.
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"When you don't have any money, the problem is food. When you have money, it's sex. When you have both, it's health. If everything is simply jake, then you're frightened of death."
- Marilyn Monroe
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Denver-Alleys-1.jpg)
Round 2.3
Scarlet: 16 @ 3 passes – reload, maybe move to cover
Sly: 15 @ 3 passes – call to his buddy, tell him to take cover.
Galbraith: 15 @ 3 passes – take a shot, drop gun and run for bag
Dubois: 15 @ 3 passes (VR) – continue hacking node
Red Samurai: 12 @ 3 passses - Enter, Stage Left.
Kinsey: 12 @ 3 passes - Ready Counterspell, astral perception
This is just the resolution of already posted actions for Round 2.3; all new actions come toward the bottom of this post.
Scarlet
Scarlet drops her half-empty mag into a pocket as she slides a fresh mag into her assault rifle, keeping her head down as she moves toward cover. That back counter is becoming a target-rich environment, as it's known, so she heads toward the only other bit of cover she's seen- the bathroom doorframe.
Kicking open the ladies' room door, Scarlet takes a knee and trains her muzzle on the opening, knowing that something bad is about to come through that hole.
Scarlet aims to make them regret that decision.
Sly
The trained professionals are hopelessly outclassed in this fight- if they just had to deal with the thugs Rastire brought in, they would have been outclassed- but these are Red Samurai. They believe that they're already dead and that only through combat and death can they find meaning and life. That's some philosophically heavy drek.
Calling out to Roger doesn't do much- either he's hard of hearing with all the shooting and explosions, or he's a little slow, but eventually he gets the jist of Sly's message: 'Get behind cover,' and wanders over to crouch slightly behind the exterminator with his taser out.
Galbraith
The APC roaring down the alleyway toward you is no joke- it's a seriously armored vehicle, and as Galbraith holds his weapon ready and carefully fires at the turret, what's possibly the weakest part of the armor, the shot simple bounces off, punching a hole in the plascrete of the alley walls in the near-blackness.
The APC is running Renraku AROs on the outside, including a feed that makes you feel the sea breeze of eastern Japan on your face as you stare toward the rising sun and think tranquil thoughts- there's no way a feel that Better than Life is legal, and generally frowned upon in polite company.
As the shot bounces off, it's clear that you'll need to upgrade your arsenal for something that packs a little more punch. The doors are cracking as Galbraith takes three steps, putting him at the corner where the hacker is napping, and he drop the Remington next to the bag as he searches through the bag for the sniper rifle
Dubois
The node is designed in a tea house setup, an oversized moon reflected in a pond rippling from the slight breeze as cherry blossoms fall onto the surface of the water.
Finding the node is no problem- it's pumping out static on every frequency that it can, and pumping out company doctrine as fast and hot as it can to the passerby, as well as giving the bird to the ZDF who doubtless want to come in and make a crater out of this thing- Ghostwalker is going to be pissed when he hears about this little incident.
Kinsey
Kinsey watches as the human-deprived auras quickly approach the McHughs, trying to get a read on what cyberwear they have: a lot; and where they have it installed: pretty much everywhere.
The good thing about a refrigerator is that they don't have a lot of will when it comes to resisting mana burn.
"The solution of every problem is another problem"
- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (http://"www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq9zhpBweDk&feature=g-all-xit")
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/RenrakuRedSamurai.jpg)
Edit: Continued 4-SEP-2012
Round 3.1
Scarlet: 16 @ 3 passes – From cover, lay down cover fire*
Sly: 15 @ 3 passes – Shootzor someone's face off
Galbraith: 15 @ 3 passes – Swap for sniper rifle
Dubois: 15 @ 3 passes (VR) – continue hacking node
Red Samurai: 12 @ 3 passses - Enter, Stage Left.
Kinsey: 12 @ 3 passes - Magikzor someone's face off
Scarlet lays down cover fire (Suppresive Fire, SR4A pg 154)
17d6 per Yogi's previous post, minus some modifiers: http://www.jackpoint.net/sheets/ranged.modifiers.html
Attacker Running (-2), Target has good cover (-4), Attacker firing from cover (-1), Attacker Firing in near darkness with thermographic vision (-2) = 17-9 dice = 8 dice
8d6.hits(5) → [2,2,2,3,2,1,1,5] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3682797/
From the door of the woman's rest room, Scarlet shouts at everyone to stay clear of the opening, and lays off a chatter of machine gun fire, not aiming at anything in particular, but spraying bullets and praying someone is stupid enough to stick their heads out.
Anyone stupid enough to be out in the line of fire better be smart enough to keep their heads down or armored like a tank.
Sly shoots at the mook- who gets a chance to dodge before the attack hits.
Red Samurai Leader: Dodge (4) + Reaction (5) Armor penalty -1 = 8 (let's say +1 for Ruski firing from cover, +4 for his own good cover)
13d6.hits(5) → [6,1,4,1,1,6,6,1,2,6,1,5,1] = (5)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3682803/
I'll give it to Ruski, even though ties are supposed to go to defender, because Ruski used a point of Edge.
Ooh, almost a glitch on the RedSamurai's part, too. One more 1 would have gone very badly for him.
Anyway, Damage resistance -1/2 impact armor
Bod (4) + Impact Armor (10 *.5=5) = 9
He's going to waste his professional pool on this; +5 dice = 14 (he really doesn't want to die in round 1)
14d6.hitsopen(5,6) → [4,4,[6, 1],3,4,1,[6, 5],4,2,1,3,4,5,2] = (4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3682806/
Red Samurai Lieutenant takes 5 boxes of physical damage (ouch), even with all his armor and training.
With a quiet hum indicating that the capacitor has fully charged and is prepared to discharge, Sly takes aim at the opening, waiting for the first red samurai to show him anything worth hitting. In this case, one of the mooks sticks his head up and surveys the entry point briefly, only to catch laser in the face.
It's a glancing blow, but a glancing blow on someone's face with a weapon that cuts through armor like soy-kheez still does a lot of damage. It's hard to tell what exactly got hit, but if the man's howl of pain is any indicator, it got him good. Maybe burned out one eye and half of his face.
Galbraith
With Scarlet's gun barking ammo in the general direction of the hole, and the flash of a heat laser, Galbraith is probably happy that he has his back turned, swapping out weapons and preparing for one hell of a fight to come. You're not really sure why, but it brings a smile to your face when the immortal and untouchable Red Samurai howls like a kid being beaten in public after the laser show.
Also, apparently the exterminator with the positron accelerator isn't someone to piss off.
I'm going to say that two successes isn't enough to crack the node.
The node appears to have been lovingly sculpted by some hacker with a japanese fetish; everything is dripping with corporate irony in a way that can't actually be intentional. You feel like sending an image scan to the dumpshock crew, so they can get a good laugh at it.
Dubois' second attempt to crack the patterning of the japanese code results in a system blip, a red alert that probably signals whoever is here to come do something about the intruder.
Fortunately for you, they're too lazy to run over here themselves right away. Unfortunately for you, this node is loaded with baby swarm IC.
(http://libertyendanger.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/multiple-babies.jpg)
The Red Samurai turn:
(http://i.imgur.com/ARZ4T.png)
Two grenades toss through the hole, each one designed to do who knows what.
You have a split second to react.
We'll give Kinsey a chance to save that roll, and save his bacon this round, if he (or Bull) wants to. If he chooses to forgo the attempt to take full cover behind the counter, the grenades go off at the start of the next combat pass
-
"Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark."
- Francis Bacon
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Grenade-Time.png)
The two grenades spin through the opening, one landing significantly inside the building, the other dropping just inside the rough aperture. There's no knowing what the grenades will do.
Okay, so I still need to know what Kinsey's action is for Round 3.1, and I need Round 3.2 actions for everyone;
Ingo, Eric is in the 'waiting room' of the node, where the system has loaded IC (Baby Swarm- Unwired, sample IC, pg 70) to deal with an intruder who doesn't even attempt stealth.
Bull, I still have no idea what you want Kinsey to do. Run away? Throw the spell? I'll let it land, even though there's no valid target yet, because we're all still learning the rules and how to function in PBP.
Galbraith- I'm assuming the shooting action is delayed until there's actually someone to shoot at?
Yogi, are you there at all? Picinic baskets are going unpilfered! The travesty!
Ruski, you keep doing what you're doing.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughs3a1.png)
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The clink clink and sound of really large spinning coins makes Kinsey forgo valor and run like hell. Praying the whole way he doesn't just get shot in the back or the face by laser boy over there.
OOC: Yeah I seek cover quickly though ironically I don't think it breaks my counterspelling at all. Oh and did a resamurai only I had a good angle on go ouchouch my head and fall over dead or is it still a full unit (ok maybe four guys and a headless one).
-
Continuing the hack. I don't think I would have notice the clinking on the ground next to me since my senses are otherwise preoccupied.
Hack on the fly + Extended test vs. target's firewall
Hacking 5 + Exploit 4 = 9
9d6.hits(5) → [3,4,1,6,6,2,2,4,6] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3684612/
Much better this time!
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Grenades?!?! Then why are they still walking in the door.....? Obviously, they want something or someone in here. 'Specially since the building is still standing. SOP would be to disable as many folk as quickly as possible without destroying their target. Means those grenades gotta' be flashbangs. I'm betting my life that they aren't the type to go off book.
Free Action: Activate Low-Light Vision
Simple Action: Aim for that thin spot in the helmet right over the eye. (Preferably the same RedSam that got lit up.)
Simple Action: Fire
Free Action: Activate Flare Compensators & Sound Dampeners
Agil 7 + Longarms 4 + Smartgun 2 + Aiming 1 - Vulnerable spot 4 = 10d
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3686064/
10d6.hits(5) → [2,3,5,6,6,4,3,3,2,2] = (3)
Extra Free Action: Pucker up TIGHT and hope I'm right!
-
Slipping the fiberoptic down to avoid shrapnel or bright flash if the grenades are flash bangs. Pointing it at the wall so that I can push it back over the counter very quickly.
-
Sylvester ducks as the grenades roll into the room. No reason to catch shrapnel in the face if you can avoid it.
-
OOC: Before KV gets around to his eventual post, since I originally misunderstood the physical location of the Red Sams I'm going to make a minor change to my actions for this pass. Since I'm not shooting out the hole into the dark alley I don't need the low-light vision, so....
Free Action: ready the flare comp and sound dampeners
Delayed 'til a Red Sam sticks his head in - Simple: Aim (same as before)
Delayed 'til after the aiming is done - Simple: Fire (same as before)
-
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
The fearful are caught as often as the bold.
- Helen Keller
Muzack (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZP5fKkMEoQ")
Previous Map (http://"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughsCombatMap3-1-alt.jpg")
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Grenade-Time.png)
Round 3.2
Scarlet: 16 @ 3 passes – Lay down more cover fire
Sly: 15 @ 3 passes – Take Cover
Dubois: 15 @ 3 passes (VR) – Continue hacking for account on Renracu APC node
Red Samurai: 12 @ 3 passses - Enter
Galbraith: 15 @ 3 passes – Delayed until someone stuck their head in; Fire, (Aim = Thermographic vision)
Kinsey: 12 @ 3 passes - Look for Target, Magickzor someone's face off (previous round take cover)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Scarlet.png) Scarlet
Posted up by the Ladies' room door, Scarlet continues spraying the area around the breach point with lead, hoping that anyone who's dumb enough to show their faces will be unlucky enough to get a bullet in it.
As a result, she's more or less staring directly at the holes as the grenades come through, although she's too distracted to take cover or call out that she sees them- or maybe she just has that much of a mad-dog on for Renracu- you've heard of runners like this, that have a hate on for one of the Big Ten in particular. Hell, Johnny Snow on the Trid has it out for Wuxing, and is making a good living doing it.
Scarlet lays down cover fire (Suppresive Fire, SR4A pg 154)
17d6 per Yogi's previous post, minus some modifiers: http://www.jackpoint.net/sheets/ranged.modifiers.html
Attacker Running (-2), Target has good cover (-4), Attacker firing from cover (-1), Attacker Firing in near darkness with thermographic vision (-2) = 17-9 dice = 8 dice
8d6.hits(5) → [5,5,3,5,4,1,1,2] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719324/
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Sylvester.png) Sly
Sly drops behind the food prep counter, his back to the only solid bit of cover in this who rat-trap, and his rifle clutched to his chest. He can see Kinsey and Roger looking at him in surprise, although Kinsey seems smart enough to follow suit and drop behind the cover... maybe he had already been moving in that direction, it's hard to tell.
Either way, behind cover is the place to be when the grenades go off- Roger seems to be slowly looking in your direction- even his blinking seems slow. Probably not great news for Roger. Roger seems to get the idea- he's even dropping to one knee, taser in hand, when the grenade goes off.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Dubois.png) Dubois
| (http://libertyendanger.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/multiple-babies.jpg) | Eric notes in the back of his brain that this Renracu node has the newest itenerary for hack blocking- and that means it's probably legitimately owned by Renracu- a small comfort, at a time like this, but if knowledge is power, you just found a cheat code. Seeing as how Renracu is trying to squash the signal coming out of here, and piping out red-hot BTL ads at anyone without a spam filter enabled, they probably want as little about this leaked as possible, and would work hard to avoid any embarassment. That's good information to have.
Also good information: if there's a Baby Swarm in here, that means two things. First, it means that the node is alerted to your presence, and if it has a secure spider, he or she is probably coming for you. Second, a baby swarm means you'd better be ready for some code-slicing cybercombat, because Baby Swarms are meant to shut down crurious attendees of the tea party, with big area attacks and some of the more dangerous ones have specialized programs that bybass code armor.
Speaking of which, you should probably have a plan to defend yourself. |
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/RedSamurai2.png) Red Samurai
The grenades have time to hit the ground once, ping off the linoleum, and then explode. The one in the center of the room is a high-powered flashbang, shredding the retinas and eardrums of everyone looking and listening in that direction. Not unlike a clap of thunder inside this tiny room, it has everyone reeling from the effects.
Before most of you can even react- as Galbraith is blinking away the after-image, more as a reflex than anything his high-grade cyberwear would let through- the second grenade explodes, filling the breach hole and the area around it with smoke. Immediately, there is the rush of booted feet through the hole, and shouting in japanese, but with the thick smoke it's almost impossible to see anything- even Scarlet's cover fire seems ineffective, since basically she's firing blind into a smoke cloud with nothing worth aiming at.
I know, I know. Sorry for the delay.
Forward grenade is a flash-bang, that does 6S to anyone within 10 meters of it (shown on your handy-dandy secondary map at the end of this post). Don't worry, I'll roll resistance, and if you want to use edge, feel free to re-roll in your next post. For fairness, while the flash-bang has 3 points of armor-piercing, I am giving you each a bonus due to cyberwear eyes and ears, up to the rating of the 'ware (which can be up to a +6 total).
Civilians First:
4d6.hits(5) → [2,1,1,5] = (1) - Five boxes of damage
4d6.hits(5) → [1,4,1,2] = (0) - Six boxes of damage, knockdown
4d6.hits(5) → [3,1,1,2] = (0) - Six boxes of damage, knockdown
4d6.hits(5) → [5,3,4,6] = (2) - Four boxes of damage
Slut - 8d6.hits(5) → [4,4,3,6,2,1,5,3] = (2) - Four boxes of damage
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719420/
Security Guards:
5d6.hits(5) → [3,6,6,3,5] = (3) - Three boxes of damage
5d6.hits(5) → [2,5,2,6,2] = (2) - Four boxes of damage
5d6.hits(5) → [4,1,3,2,5] = (1) - Five boxes of damage
5d6.hits(5) → [4,4,3,6,1] = (1) - Five boxes of damage
Roger - 9d6.hits(5) → [6,2,2,1,4,6,5,5,2] = (4) - Two boxes of damage
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719423/
Scarlet (unfortunately, cannot use glasses and contacts at the same time)
Bod (4) + Impact Armor (5) + Earbud (Rating 3) + Cover (2) - Armor Piercing (-3)
11d6.hits(5) → [1,1,3,2,4,6,5,2,5,1,6] = (4) - two boxes of Stun damage
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719429/
Sly
Bod (4) + Impact Armor (8) + Cover (2) - Armor Piercing (-3)
11d6.hits(5) → [3,2,4,4,3,3,5,5,1,3,1] = (2) - Four boxes of Stun damage
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719438/
Galbraith
Bod (6) + Impact Armor (10) + Cyberear (Rating 1) + Cybereye (Rating 4) - Armor Piercing (-3)
18d6.hits(5) → [3,3,3,2,2,2,5,5,6,2,2,6,1,3,6,6,4,3] = (6) - Zero boxes of damage
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719443/
Dubois - out of range, fortunately for him)
Kinsey
Bod (3) + Impact Armor (2) + Earbuds (Rating 3) - Armor Piercing (-3)
5d6.hits(5) → [2,5,3,2,1] = (1) - - Five boxes of damage
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719450/
(Bull, I would really recommend using a point of Edge, if you haven't already, to re-roll that)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Galbraith-1.png) Galbraith
Sliding the butt of your Walther MA-2100 up to your shoulder feels familiar-feels good. You pause and wait for the first person through the opening- hoping that your position and the superior firepower will be enough to turn the tide in your favor, even against the legendary Red Samurai. There's even a rumor floating around that these guys have a funeral when they go into the program- say goodbye to friends and family, and believe that the only way out of the system is death; specifically, heroic death in combat, like those old samurai on the trideo. Crazy stuff.
It's amazing, some of the things you think of when you're pausing between heartbeats and the enemy is running at you. Bloody amazing.
The grenade nearest you explodes in a cloud of smoke, and you let out a breath you didn't realize you were holding before that thing that keeps you alive kicks in and reminds you that not all smoke is harmless. Holding your breath as best you can, you drop your eyes into thermographic vision, and curse to yourself when the heat tracers in the smoke block that as well. It seems like these soldiers came prepared.
Galbraith - Perception to 'see' Red Samurai
Perception (4) + Intuition (5) + Cyberears (Enhanced Audio, Rating 3)
12d6.hits(5) → [6,3,5,3,5,6,6,1,3,1,6,3] = (6)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719460/
...okay, I guess that's enough to locate the Red Samurai closest to you at point-blank range, although I believe this will go badly for you. Anyway, here are the tables I'm referring to, both for visibility (http://"http://denver.wikidot.com/info:visibility") and just for generic combat modifiers in general (http://"http://denver.wikidot.com/info:ranged-combat-modifiers").
Galbraith: Delayed Action - Fire
Agility (7) + Longarms (4) + Smartlink (2) - 8 (Thermographic Vision in Thermal Smoke) - 2 (Target Running)
3d6.hits(5) → [3,6,1] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719463/
Red Samurai - Defense
Red Samurai : Reaction (6) - Armor Penalty (-1) - Defaulting (-1) = 4 + Professional Pool = 9
9d6.hits(5) → [4,5,6,3,1,2,6,4,4] = (3)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719465/
It could have been eddying in the smoke, but you swore you fired right at the center of the person in front of you. Through the choking hot smoke, and probably a respirator, you hear a harsh japanese voice grumble something unpleasant: "あなたの雌犬の息子！私はそのことであなたを殺す！"
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/Kinsey3.png) Kinsey
There's a lot going on in your head as you watch the opening for a sign of someone worth slinging mana at. There's the panic that makes your knees quiver, makes your mouth go dry and makes that angry voice in the back of your head yell at you for staying put. Oddly enough, it sounds like Doc's voice.
The voice telling you to get out, run, get away from the danger, it pushes your hammering heartbeat up into your throat, and makes your palms wet while reminding you that you definitely need to take a leak sometime in the immediate future. Heartbeat hammering in your ears, you slide behind the cover, taking advantage of the solid counters that dispense the so-called 'food' in this place, and wait for the grenades to go off- after they blow, there will probably still be plenty for you to do.
After the grenades pop, you have a hard time hearing through your ears- everything sounds muffled and far away, and you're having a hard time balancing.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughsCombatMap3-2.jpg)
-
OOC: Reroll edge please. I will post a response when I find out what happens with that.
DM Edit:
Kinsey
Bod (3) + Impact Armor (2) + Earbuds (Rating 3) + Cover (2) - Armor Piercing (-3)
7d6.hits(5) → [6,4,6,2,2,4,3] = (2)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3720672/
Using Edge to re-roll failures...
5d6.hits(5) → [1,1,1,4,6] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3720673/
Which makes a total of three successes, which in turn means soaked damage down to 3 stun.
...still ouch, but not as much...
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Sly
Bod (4) + Impact Armor (8) + Cover (2) - Armor Piercing (-3)
11d6.hits(5) → [3,2,4,4,3,3,5,5,1,3,1] = (2)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3719438/
Use EDGE to re-roll failures:
Bod (4) + Impact Armor (8) + Cover (2) - Armor Piercing (-3)
9d6.hits(5) → [4,3,5,3,1,3,3,5,1] = (2) - four net successes, two stun damage.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3721329/
-
The concussive blast was audible on a very painful level.
Even with his eyes screwed tight it felt like both his eardrums were ruptured.
Shaking his head to momentarily loose the cobwebs and dizziness that enveloped his brain he took stock of his situation.
How many badguys? Unknown. How many typically run in an op? It’s 4 in the movies. Hacker, Gun bunny, Face, and ninja. That’s no good. How many are here? Him, Scarlet, Dubois, Galbraith, Kinsey… That’s probably a more realistic representation of how many bodies are enough to form a team in Denver. So 5; let’s say 6, so you aren’t surprised if there’s more.
Advantage: Us, entrenched forces. It’s a crap spot to be entrenched. But the little available cover is available only to us.
Then again, they knew what wall to breech. So: they probably had layouts and hours to plan this op. well: how long did I have? Couple of hours anyways. They made their own door negating our position of advantage in seating, on top of bypassing the entrenched security.
Sylvester looked over at Roger.
He looked like he still had some fight in his eyes.
Well, partially bypassing the entrenched security anyways.
Okay, so they got good tactics. Cutting off communications and shock and awe on the entrenched party is a good call. Smoke: … DREK! Well, that was bad for his laser rifle. Although… no HE grenades… they must want someone alive… probably not him, but someone. The Johnston? Grab her under cover of smoke and dump buckets of HE grenades into the hole? Or whatever their equivalent of ‘massive death’ would be.
Double Drek.
It was a good plan. Okay: assuming that’s their plan, be it buckets of grenades or a small nuke, they still need something from here first. And then they’ll just drive away in their tank.
Ding! The tank. With a wide open door.
A tank that they expected to be behind them on the safe side of the universe. After all: the runners or principle would have to go through all five of them to get to it, unless they ran out the front door… which would be covered. Probably by another drone… creating a fatal funnel for us to charge through, sans smoke grenade cover.
Okay: new plan. Death from above and beyond. Get to the roof, jump onto and into the tank and take out their escape route.
A single man attacking the tank… well: they probably wouldn’t be expecting it.
That alone would probably make it worth the price of admission.
Okay, how to explain this to his co-workers.
He looked at Kinsey: uh-oh. That was not the look of supreme confidence. Roger the security guard armed with a rubber gun looked more confident.
Talking was out. His bleeding eardrums probably matched everyone in the room.
Simple is probably best.
Sylvester drops his gun; letting the tactical harness half slide it to his back.
Turning to quickly write something on the grease and smoke stained wall he puts four letters into the grease:
T. A. N. K.
Block capitols. Hopefully they can figure it out.
Roger sprints for the roof access room, bouncing open the door and remembering to duck under the low ductwork just inside. Jumping up to start the ladder climb he pushes open the door and climbs out onto the roof.
Tank is that way. Going to have to be a blind jump. The smoke will blind them as much as you: and looking would probably just convince me not to do it anyways.
Tuck and roll… if the tank is close enough it won’t be a bad fall at all.
If it’s further away: well, mostly he just needed to clear the red samurai still on their side of the wall. So it would still work: just hurt a bit more. Either way: a bad plan in action was better than anything in non-action.
-
Continuing Hack on the fly + Extended test vs. target's firewall
Hacking 5 + Exploit 4 = 9
9d6.hits(5) → [4,1,5,2,1,3,4,2,5] = (2)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3726668/
Brings my total up to 7 (1+1+3+2). Oh heck I'm just going to reroll failures with Edge.
Edge to reroll failures, pool of 7
7d6.hits(5) → [1,1,4,2,4,1,4] = (0)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3726679/
Aaaand nothing. What a waste :P
I don't think I have very good luck with Invisible Castle.
KV: I have Armor and Attack already running as my "standard suite" of apps, so I should be ready for an attack.
-
8d6.hits(5)=4 (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3727662/)
8d6.hits(5) → [6,5,1,3,3,5,3,6] = (4)
OOC: Finally, Invisible Castle shows one of us some love...
Sylvester goes to push down the handle while simultaneously pushing open the door with his shoulder, trusting the dongle in his pocket to auto-unlock the door... maybe trusting anything is a bad idea, or maybe nothing is destined to go right tonight... either way: the power-outage keeps the door handle fixed firmly in place.
Newton said it best:
"An object that is in motion will not change its velocity unless an unbalanced force acts upon it"
Sprinting and hoping the door would open with a simple handle turn, and having the door remain closed doesn't stop 90kg traveling at 6 meters per second from traveling forward.
it does make a spectacular mess.
The door is knocked off it's hinges, negating the need to 'duck' on the other side to avoid that low hanging air duct.
Sylvester slides to the foot of the ladder on his 'secure door (tm) toboggan' a little shaken, but not much delayed.
*Okay Chummer, up and over...*
-
Kinsey sticks his head up and activates his mage sight (free action). Reciting the whisper and pointing a finger in the area between him and the Reds. He actually concentrates as far forward of them so he doesn't hit the team.
OOC:
Magic + Spellcasting - Damage= 10 dice
(4,4,2,4,4,4,5.3,1,5) = 2 successes (Force 8 Manaball)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3728698/
Drain;
Willpower + Logic = 7 dice
(4,1,2,1,1,4,3,6,3): 0 successes Critical Glitch
-
Thermal smoke!?!? Drek!!! These guys are good. Wonder if they're hirin'? Even I can't do much in this muck. Let's see if they're here for the girl or something else....
Simple Action: Move-back up out of the smoke and around that table
(OOC either 1 or 2 simples. However many it takes. If it's only 1 then...)
Simple Action: Hold fire for a Red target to become visible and fire
Long arms 4 + Agility 7 + Smartlink 2 = 13 (if I need to reroll due to partial smoke or something let me know)
13d6.hits(5) → [1,6,3,4,5,3,5,3,3,6,6,2,1] = (5)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3732258/
Sniper Rifle (DV7;AP-3) + 5 hits - dodge
-
"If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story."
- Orson Welles
Peter Gabriel - My Body Is A Cage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeFezGJF7mA)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/nuke.jpg)
Tiny vessels break in Kinsey's brain as he struggles to pull the mana out of the astral plane and inflict damage on the Red Samurai bastards who had shot at them- shot at him, killed some of these people. He can't see anything but blind rage, tearing at the astral plane to make enough energy for a dragon to sit up and take notice.
Kinsey Nukes everyone.
Red Samurai:
4d6.hits(5) → [6,2,3,6] = (2)
4d6.hits(5) → [3,6,1,3] = (1)
4d6.hits(5) → [5,4,5,6] = (3)
4d6.hits(5) → [6,3,3,3] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3769987/ (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3769987/)
Two live without a scratch, two eat 9 boxes of physical damage.
Civilians:
3d6.hits(5) → [4,6,2] = (1)
3d6.hits(5) → [5,4,4] = (1)
3d6.hits(5) → [4,1,2] = (0)
3d6.hits(5) → [2,1,4] = (0)
3d6.hits(5) → [2,6,3] = (1)
3d6.hits(5) → [2,6,1] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3769996/ (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3769996/)
Two civilians die- the rest have 9 boxes of physical damage, and a huge hospital bill ahead of them.
Guards:
3d6.hits(5) → [3,5,4] = (1)
3d6.hits(5) → [1,5,5] = (2)
3d6.hits(5) → [5,1,6] = (2)
3d6.hits(5) → [6,6,6] = (3)
3d6.hits(5) → [6,3,3] = (1)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3769999/ (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3769999/)
Wow, three guards lived! I was not expecting that. For funsies, I'll have one of them be Roger.
Kinsey:
First, let's figure out how much damage Kinsey took from the spell. Earlier, when the guard flubbed the soak roll, we just added +2 to the DV of the damage, which was quite a big hit. The SR4A manual recommends a bleeding wound, but a bleeding brain wound? I'm not that mean.
Drain for Manaball (SR4a, pg 204)
(Force ( 8) / 2) + 2 (+2 for critical glitch) = 8 physical damage, none resisted.
On top of that, Kinsey centered the blast between himself and the Red Samurai, with a blast that's almost exactly the same as the flashbang the Red Samurai dropped. So he gets hit, too, in addition to the damage he took from casting the spell. And he doesn't get the spell pool dice that he allocated for everyone else.
Resist Manaball 8, 2 successes:
Kinsey
4d6.hits(5) → [4,3,3,3] = (0)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3770004/ (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3770004/)
Ouch, a bad time for a failure. Kinsey is dead, at least for this test scenario.
Galbraith:
4d6.hits(5) → [3,5,5,1] = (2)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3770005/ (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3770005/)
Ooh, walks away without a scratch. I don't know who you bribed at Invisible Castle, but it was well worth the money you paid. I even forgot to include Kinsey's spell resistance pool dice.
Scarlet: 3d6.hits(5) → [2,1,2] = (0)
Ouch, critical fumble. Let's add Kinsey's spell defense in...
3d6.hits(5) → [4,5,3] = (1)
Scarlet eats 9 boxes of damage. Ouch, that can't feel good- and she's bleeding out her spleen.
Actions resolved; post actions for the following round.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughsCombatMap3-2.jpg)
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OOC: I apologize. I need to do better about verifying the rules before I post my actions. The walking movement didn't take an action, so:
1st Simple Action:
Hold for target, then fire controlled pair. (See previous for 1st round & below for 2nd round.)
2nd Simple Action:
Long arms 4 + Agility 7 + Smartlink 2 - Recoil 1 + Recoil Comp 1 = 13
13d6.hits(5) → [6,3,6,5,2,5,2,5,1,2,4,1,4] = (5)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3784822/
Sniper Rifle (DV7;AP-3;RC 1) + 5 hits - dodge
-
"Courage is resistance to fear,
mastery of fear, not absence of fear."
- Mark Twain
Muse - Madness (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq9zhpBweDk")
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/SmokeSoldierssmall_zpsa282cfbe.jpg)
Half of the people in the restaurant are dead, almost everyone wearing injuries sustained in the last thirty seconds. Not exactly how you would have hoped that things would go at this point.
One of the Red Samurai charges after Galbraith with blood in his eye, and the man waiting with the sniper rifle is ready for him. At short range, there are penalties for using a scope to spot your target, but Galbraith aims for center mass and fires off a controlled pair.
The Red Samurai goes down, a basketball-sized hole showing in his back when his facemask hits the ground.
Another Red Samurai exits the smoke cloud, spraying down the entrance of the Ladies' room where Scarlet had been in cover while laying down fire over the entrance. Her rounds stopped after that mojo-nuke, and it seems the Red Samurai wants to make sure she's dead.
Oddly, he stops to ID her body before returning to the smoke.
Sly hits the ladder at a run, thankful for his helmet protecting his precious brain as he came through the low room decorated with pipes and ducting. The rungs aren't meant to be climbed with condiments decorating your gloves, but a height advantage is worth a little precarious climbing.
New Map:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughsCombatMap3-3_zps533507b6.jpg)
Go ahead and post new actions!
-
Updated Map:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/McHughsCombatMap3-3a_zpsf693ca0a.jpg)
-
...segue into story mode...
"Courage is resistance to fear,
mastery of fear, not absence of fear."
- Mark Twain
Muse - Madness (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq9zhpBweDk")
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/k1d_v1d/SmokeSoldierssmall_zpsa282cfbe.jpg)
As the red samurai sprays lead into the ladies' room where Scarlet was making her hiding place, Galbraith raises the rifle to his shoulder and fires off two quick rounds- what's known as a controlled pair; the both hit the red-armored figure in the back, near the spine. Either would be enough to kill the Renraku hitman, but two just to be sure. The form crumples without even looking around.
There's a spray of gunfire, and one of the red samurai pauses to remove the fearsome facemask of their stylized helmets, shouting in Japanese "祖先は、アーチャーあなたをいまいましい！あなたのお尻を下車し、フェイルセーフをトリガしない場合は、博文と清隆は爆発している！"
It's not immediately clear who he's talking to, but he sounds pissed.
Within the slowly roiling smoke cloud, a female voice sounds, raspy through the smoke. She shouts "祖先は、アーチャーあなたをいまいましい！あなたのお尻を下車し、フェイルセーフをトリガしない場合は、博文と清隆は爆発している！" with a note of triumph in her voice, and they slowly begin to withdraw- it feels like the retreat takes an eternity.
Half of the people in the restaurant are dead, almost everyone wearing injuries sustained in the last thirty seconds. Not exactly how you would have hoped that things would go at this point.
* * * * *
Sly hits the ladder at a run, thankful for his helmet protecting his precious brain as he came through the low room decorated with pipes and ducting. The rungs aren't meant to be climbed with condiments decorating your gloves, but a height advantage is worth a little precarious climbing. Taking the rungs at a run, pushing off and grabbing the one in front of you while momentum is on your side- well, it isn't the safest way to ascend, but it is quick. You're two steps closer to the edge of the roof before you even feel out of breath, and sliding the tactical laser off of its ring, you grind the butt of the stock against your shoulder, knowing that there's no kick for this weapon, but you don't want to waste battery life with a miss.
* * * * *
Eric slices through the code of the node (amusing himself by rhyming words), dispatching the baby swarm and firing black hammer at the enemy hacker. The stylized obsidian hammer (standard icons are so bourgeois) flies through the air, smacking the hacker between the eyes and causing him to log off. There's something- strangely empty about the victory. I mean, you won, but where's the sense of pride, accomplishment, or bragging rights?
Eric begins hacking the node, tearing out chunks of code and replacing them with haiku-style snippets written on the fly. There is some satisfaction in this; before too long, Eric has superuser access, and directs the turret to disarm and shut off- ending one threat. Dubois also cuts the subscription to the secondary drone- the one watching for anyone trying to run out of the front door in a panic; that would have racked up quite a few cleanup kills in a few moments when the panicked crowd from inside made a break for 'safety.' The drone just sitting there will be hacked by some rigger who needs a new pet- or, since Eric is thinking about it, he sends the drone off to get scrubbed by a dwarf in the area who de-bugs acquisitions and re-purposes them for a little extra cred. Always good to make sure your friends were happy, better to keep them paid.
* * * * *
Sly hits the edge of the roof, watching the red samurai drag a bloody mess into their APC. One of the red samurai is rolling around on the ground, holding his face and screaming, where some poor bastard cut through his armor like soy-cheese with a laser; could have been anyone. The two red samurai exiting look pissed, and both have their face-plates removed. A very pissed-looking Japanese human walks over to the downed red samurai, putting two in the chest; and then spits on the corpse. Apparently they were not good friends. The man continues watching the squirming thrashes growing slower, and the Japanese human woman dragging a bloody sack of something into the APC says something to the man, but it's lost in the wind on top of the roof.
Carefully picking an opportunity target isn't difficult. The woman is carrying something of value, and... then Sly realizes that not only has the man seen him, but that the man is grabbing for the sling that holds his assault rifle- one of those nice ones with the vehicle-piercing ammunition. Sly suddenly feels very naked in just his armored jumper, and changes targets, cutting down the threat and letting the woman go.
The woman is shouting something inside the APC. The doors stutter closed, and the vehicle begins to evacuate, leaving the fallen teammates behind. Sly takes cover behind the buttress at the edge of the building, meant to keep prying eyes from looking at the HVAC unit, the matrix broadcast antenna, or anything else important up here... like fifty rat traps containing dead rats. He's expecting that big turret to swivel, aim at him, and make him a smear in the next world, but the turret is strangely silent, even pointing toward the ground and bouncing with the terrain. It's a little unsettling, but you don't look a gift horse like that in the mouth, so Sly holds his fire as the Renraku goons retreat.
* * * * *
Kinsey stands up, blood leaking from his eyes and ears.
"Holy drek, omae," Roger says in a voice of awe, "I thought you were totally dead."
Kinsey laughs, a hollow sound. "Do you know what a shedim is?"
* * * * *
Inside the burger joint, the chaos of war has turned into the pandemonium and chaos of surviving such an incident. Roger and the other security guards try and keep calm, but they're a twig trying to hold back an avalanche; the slutty girl is already hooking up with the 20-something elf that 'totally saved her life,' according to the Pito update she just posted. Most everyone else is dragging themselves toward the door, if not running. Security is trying to keep people calm, but there's not really a way to do that other than to shut everyone in, and with the power generator out, there's no way to even do that.
Thirty seconds after the Red Samurai pull out, Roger and the others are kicking the corpses of the attackers, trying to figure out what to do with them. Galbraith makes his way to the ladies room to check on Scarlet, confirming what he already knew- the hot elf chick had gotten ventilated. Dubois slips out the crater at the back, having a new drone meet him at the car. He forwards his contact info to all the runners- they proved competent, and he'll need help in the future if he's going to build a shadow reputation.
They're both out of range of the explosion as the red samurai armor detonates- splattering the security guards and manager standing over them, and destroying any cyber, armor, or weapons they were carrying. There are three craters inside, one outside, and a suspicious trail of blood moving toward a sewer grate... but that's a problem for another time. Right now there's the matter of a bunch of red samurai attacking a place where you were meeting with a potential employer, them all getting ganked, and leaving you holding the bag.
You exit, stage left, cleaning up your mess on your way out.
"Tonight, the reports are flooding in of a terrorist attack in Edgewater, where local residents are describing chaos at a local eatery. Due to our stations' corporate afiliation, we cannot reveal the location, but we'll be bringing you eyewitness reports at the top of every hour;"
"Oh my gawdess, and then this hot elf totally throws himself in between me and the terrorists, saving my life! So of course I gave it up for him, like immediately, and I have to say, I've found something better than breakup sex!"
"We ask that any individuals with information about the following persons please report to the free help line; (303) 534-6567-4259; rewards are available for every tip, extra money for tips leading to the apprehension of these dangerous persons."
"Renraku has stepped in and donated millions to rebuilding this area, upgrading security coverage like cameras and drone patrols, new sewer works, and an additional stipend to the Zone Defense force to establish a communication array that will help them deal with crises like this in the future."
"The prototype test at Renraku was pushed back by a further two months, in sensitivity to the terrorist incident in Edgewater. Reports that the prototype information had been stolen have proved to be the basest lies, spread by competitors to weaked Renraku's strong market position."
"And then, like this guy with a laser gun was shooting at the car, all 'fwoosh fwoosh!' It was pretty frakking awesome."