X00054:8.Y00030:12.Z00032:25, Undercity, Waterside | South Night City Integrate | Midcity | UrbanZone - March 10th, Day 4 (Monday), 09:02 AM PST

Weather Conditions: High City (Very Windy, 25 mph winds from the West.) | Midcity (Windy, 13mph winds from the West.) | Undercity (Slight Wind, 5mph gusts from the West.)

Air Quality Index: High City = 0 | Midcity = 35 | Undercity = 65 (masks required)

As Charlie and Ghlahn approach the midway point, so too does the Hairtech and two of his goons. Arriving together in the middle at the same time, Hairtech crosses his arms in front of his double-breasted SpiderSilk suit and grips his left hand in his right. 

“You have the child?” He asks in a flat, practiced way. “Produce him and bring him to me. Once we have the child in secure custody and have left the site, my employer will wire the credit to your employer.”

Ghlahn hides an annoyed smile at Hairtech's words. Why was it always "give us stuff now and we give you stuff later?" If we give up the package we might or might not get paid later. The buyer does appear to be a person of influence so it isn’t likely they don’t have the credits. But then again, he also had the means to hire a well-armed group and once the kid is out of the picture there isn’t much to stop the buyer from having this sec team save him some credits. Of course, that could ruin his reputation so there is at least that going for us. Hopefully, Charlie can talk them into a more suitable arrangement. If not, then there really isn’t much choice but to do as they ask. A shootout here might see him make it out alive if he got really lucky and didn't bother to even try to protect the team. But, he knows he would do his best to get them out alive and that would likely end up badly for everyone. For now, he simply stands quietly and evaluates the sec team. ( OOC: Human Perception roll: 1d10+3=14 / Combat Sense roll: 1d10+12=21 )

As the CEE-metal scans the hot zone he can see that there’s very little by way of readily available cover. The closest position is behind him at the van and that’s an unarmored vehicle. These goons in front of him are likely all driving armored vehicles not to mention the armored overcoats, suits, and nuCybe they’re likely sporting. Looking, as a sniper does, at the higher ground—the second floor of the warehouses on either side and above.

While it would take him about six or seven seconds to make it across the open space to the nearest warehouse door, a bullet moves much faster and there are plenty of positions a sniper could take… plenty. At least five on the left and four on the right. Overhead is difficult to tell, but with his telescopic vision, Ghlahn can make out at least five possible perches in front of them and who knows how many behind; probably the same or more. Years of experience behind the scope of a rifle tells the cyborg that should things go south, there’s no way any of them are surviving barring a miracle.

In the shadow infested interior of the rental van, Fixer dislikes every moment of this event. He is used to stress and even enjoys it a bit. Sometimes, it makes you feel alive. Right now, it’s just making him feel very, very close to dead. And the truly damnable thing is, there is almost nothing he can do about it. His life, Jace's future, Vegas' fate—right now all of it is in the hands of those out there doing the talking. He just doesn’t want anything stupid to happen.

Since he can’t change what happens out there, he ignores it to the best of his ability. Instead, he watches Jace and Rya. This is his self-appointed task for the moment. If she moves, he will stop her. They need to stay calm. He keeps all of his senses and sensors trained on the pair of them.  Let the quarry not cause the hunter's problems now. ( OOC: Awareness/Notice check: 1d10+12=19 / Human Perception check: 1d10+0=6 )

Despite his efforts, James cannot read any more into the prisoners’ demeanor than what their elevated heart rates are telling him, and that’s just plain obvious as far as he can tell. He does notice something curious though. Rya’s right arm is really still. Jace is on her left side, but her right arm hasn’t moved in a bit since Charlie and the others left the vehicle.

Casino’s fist clenches about the grip of his weapon at Santa’s representative’s words. This is the part he hates; when he has to trust that those who had hired the fixer—in this case, Starlight—will honor the contract and give the credits to her so she can the team. Then comes the trust in Starlight to actually give them the credits when she has them. After all, someone had to have hired that second-team right, what was to say it was not her.

Knowing Echo is seated right behind him ready to hit the gas and get them out of there is helping to calm the nerves, but if things go wrong and the shooting starts, Casino gives Charlie no chance of reaching the van before being shot to s*** and killed. The cyborg can easily take a wave of bullets and make the van, but he too will be seriously hurt in a firefight like that. Not a good outlook at all. He hates giving Rya over to possible death despite his cavalier presentation back at the motel, but he had given her a chance to walk away and she had refused. It all now comes down to Charlie’s ability to get them paid. ( OOC: Awareness/Notice check: 1d10+8=12 / Combat Sense: 1d10+10=12 )

Surprising even himself, Casino can sense and see nothing that would suggest things are going to go poorly. After all, if the shooting starts before they have the kid then they run the risk of shooting Jace. If Charlie accepts the deal as it stands, which seems pretty straightforward for someone who isn’t the original fixer and an unknown to Santa’s elves, then he’s back to the trust he’s placed in Starlight as his employer to see that he’s paid. Unless Charlie really screws up, things should be fine and then he can get on with rescuing Vegas.

With one foot out of the van placed firmly on the ground and her other one solidly within the van, all Echo can do is wait and hope this meet ends as drama-free as possible. They have left the status of Vegas up in the air far too long to hope that Casino’s partner is still alive. She had liked the crooner skin job while he was around and feels a little sadness at the thought that he’s likely dead already.

Scanning the sedans and limo she wonders who is inside the fancy aerodyne vehicle. As she listens to Charlie begin negotiations she keeps her senses engaged, ready to drive the group out of here at the slightest sign of everything exploding. Of course… the van is unarmored and even small arms can penetrate the plastics surrounding the frame. ( OOC: Awareness/Notice check: 1d10+13=23 (exploding 10), 1d10+23=33 (another exploding 10), 1d10+33=39 / Combat Sense: 1d10+16=1 Absolute Fail )

Using her position to assess the area around them, Echo finds herself drawn to a small variation in the shadows overhead tucked within the underside of the towers. Narrowing her eyes, she pulls her Balaclava up a little higher on her nose to conceal her true intentions of really studying that area. Whether because of her time spent in the wastelands outside of the city conglomerates or just because she’s so used to hunting small animals for fresh food when on the road. Whatever the reason, she knows for certain that she’s spotted a sniper.

"I have an even better idea,” Cred Stick Charlie smiles warmly, “how about you pay half now, and then I have the child sent over here?" (OOC: Persuade/Fast-Talk: 1d10+10=17 / Human Perception: 1d10+10=1

The effort is a good one, but Techhair is cool as ice. He remains unphased. His opening statement wasn’t a request up for negotiation.

Charlie tries another route, "You do have the credits right? I mean,” Luther waves his arms free to point out the others with Santa’s voice. 

"Where am I going to go? Unless you don't have the money, then you are wasting my time, my friend. I hope that you don't mind me calling you my friend, for you are the money man right?

“I'm willing to wait but then again I'll add that time on for a nominal fee, so... I do have a small fee to charge for my time. I mean you don’t work for free. Maybe the question that I should be asking is.. For whom do you work? 

"I have what you want, you have what I want, but we really don't trust each other here, do we?" Luther flashes his infectious smile. “And that hurts my feelings, so... let's cut to the chase... if you don't have the credit stick that I can and will verify, or your employer isn't in that vehicle. I will need to leave, and add my fee to this fiasco.” 

Techhair remains unblinking, standing still as can be, his hands crossed in front of his very expensive suit coat. “I hate to repeat myself and while that was a very nice speech, the contract states that the only one to be paid is a Starlight. You, I am presuming from your attire and the fact that you appear to be male, are not Starlight. Therefore, you are not entitled to the credits.

“Now,” Hairtech still hasn’t blinked. “Do be a good hound and fetch the boy. We are on a schedule.”

Of course, Starlight would have set everything up to go through her and with her injury taking her out of direct access, she’s still the only one who can receive the funds. This makes sense to Charlie. It is likely the way any fixer worth their salt would set things up. Thinking back on other runs that he’s made under her contract he cannot recall a single one where he’s been the recipient of the payment.

(OOC: March 10th, Day 4 - Monday, Time is 09:04 AM PST - Undercity, Waterside X00054:8.Y00030:12.Z00032:25, South Night City Integrate.)

You're only 15-ft away. So, yes.

Excellent.

I was a test monkey. I only twitch every so often now.

Always good to see you, Hammer.

As Keeper says...

You may make the rolls on Roll20 for each then write out your post. I'll make the results of the rolls known in my next post.

And... posted.

Even though a good portion of you are standing about, remember that you can always make skill checks by writing something along the lines of, "{Character} doesn't like the way this whole setup feels. Eyes darting towards the dark ceiling overhead (Awareness/Notice Check) and then skimming the ominous walls of the warehouses on the left and then to the right, (Combat Sense check), {Character) attempts to cess out any ambush."

If you need links to your character sheets again on Google Drive or have questions, you can hit me up through email, PM, or Discord.

X00054:8.Y00030:12.Z00032:25, Undercity, Waterside | South Night City Integrate | Midcity | UrbanZone - March 10th, Day 4 (Monday), 09:00 AM PST

Weather Conditions: High City (Very Windy, 25 mph winds from the West.) | Midcity (Windy, 13mph winds from the West.) | Undercity (Slight Wind, 5mph gusts from the West.)

Air Quality Index: High City = 0 | Midcity = 35 | Undercity = 65 (masks required)

Fixer knows there isn’t much he can do. He will have to rely on the others to carry out the drop.  Well, he muses, I’ll keep my eyes open. First, as they approach the drop, he scans everywhere he can, searching for electrical surveillance or threats. Is there any as-yet-unseen threat? The place is sealed as tight as a radioactive canister. One way in, one way out. Nothing else to do, he turns to the package.

Keeping his eyes locked on Rya and Jase, he doesn’t think they have weapons on them, but they'd run far enough already it seems an almost certainty that they'd make a break for it again given the chance. And then what would happen? Or did they have some other plan? To try and take over the vehicle when part of the team left? He can’t see it happening, but he is going to make darn sure it doesn’t happen. So, his scan for security done, he ignores the events outside and focuses on those inside the vehicle. Jase and Rya. He focuses his audio equipment on them so that he can hear the rhythm of their breath. If they are up to something, he wants to know what. Elevated heart rates and shallow breathing fill his ears.

"Charlie,” Casino states as the van pulls to a stop, “you have the lead. You know how to deal with these types of people. Ghlahn you on Charlie, Echo on me. Bloodbank, Fixer, stay in the van with the boy and his mom. When Charlie signals, bring them out and hand them over to him and Ghlahn. Blossom, if you feel it's safe—and only you would know for sure—do a face rec on these guys. If not sit tight as our last line of cover.”

Opening her driver's door, Echo rises to stand then thinks better of it. Keeping one foot in the van and placing the other foot on the ground outside, she rests her submachine gun on her right thigh and out of sight. Signaling Casino as to her placement, still semi within the van, yet still behind him and covering him, all she can do now is wait and hope everything will go through okay. The adrenaline pumping throughout her body, the Rolling State edgerunner has to admit this is what she lives for. A quick glance at Casino produces the thought, And maybe something else…

Bloodbank sits tight at Casino's order. As best he can from the backseat, he surveys the decked-out security team, swallowing past a new lump in his throat. They’re armed to the teeth and he gave a knife to a desperate woman.

This is sure to end well.

"I'll take Ghlahn for now," Luther comments through the filtered mouthpiece of his Phantom mask to Casino. "Ghlahn, ready to walk?" 

Cred Stick Charlie turns his head as he starts making his way to the approaching corporate delegation. "Not to close, no visible weapons should be seen, even if they bear them. We don't need to escalate this any more than needed. Easy peasy." 

Slowly reaching inside his coat for his Zippo lighter, he produces it to repeatedly opens and closes the cap with a clicking noise while he slowly advances the last 15 ft. Ghlahn is a bit surprised that Luther wants him and not Casino to join him for the meet itself, but only for a moment. He is more likely to remain calm and Casino tends to be a bit impulsive, after all.  

"You got it, no weapons in the open. Let's get this done. If it goes to Hell, just run and don't let me pass you. I've got your six." The CEE-Metal walks confidently over the last fifteen feet. The presence of a sec team concerns him as he knows how outgunned they would be if it came to a fight. Plus the incident in the garage left a bad taste in his mouth. He can only hope that Fate would be a kind mistress. He stops just a step to the right and behind Luther and adopts a "couldn't care less" stance.

As Charlie and Ghlahn approach the midway point, so too does the Hairtech and two of his goons. Arriving together in the middle at the same time, Hairtech crosses his arms in front of his double-breasted SpiderSilk suit and grips his left hand in his right. 

“You have the child?” He asks in a flat, practiced way. “Produce him and bring him to me. Once we have the child in secure custody and have left the site, my employer will wire the credit to your employer.”

(OOC: March 10th, Day 4 - Monday, Time is 09:02 AM PST - Undercity, Waterside X00054:8.Y00030:12.Z00032:25, South Night City Integrate.)

Thank you for hating me, Espatier. And for the post.

I am most likely going to update this afternoon.

I'm going to do some clarifying because it seems like there's a lot of confusion going on and it is causing conflict.

1. Unless you all decided to drop everyone except Charlie off outside of the drop zone (which will put everyone out of play except Charlie) then you're all together where Echo stopped the van. As I wasn't getting any definitive plans before my last post, I made the decision for you that this is the case. No going back on that now. Please, in the future, take advantage of the opportunities I give to work out plans before I post my update to the game. I've said before that if I don't have posts from players, or things aren't addressed in the posts that need to be addressed, rather than hold up the game any longer, I may just move things forward and you may not like what happens.


2. Echo parked the van "in close" which means that you are already within thirty feet (roughly 9-10 meters) of the corporate vehicles. There's no getting out and leaving people behind at this point. 


3. Charlie has already exited the van followed by Ghlahn who has told Charlie that he'll be on his six. Any discussion about staying behind would take place at this point. 


4. The "alley" that you keep referring to is thirty meters wide (that's almost 100 feet). The length of which is two hundred meters (a little over 650 feet) with the corp team about halfway. That means that you've already driven roughly 350 feet down the length of the road before you stopped. That's a lot of open space in every direction. Act with this in mind. 
   
   
   
   1. The underside of the buildings overhead is about thirty meters from the ground or one hundred feet. With the van height at about nine feet or roughly 3 meters, that means that there are another ninety feet to the top of the cube space you're in.
   
   
   2. The van and corp vehicles are parked in the middle of the area. That means that you have roughly forty feet or twelve-ish meters between the van and any potential cover in the warehouses on either side. I'm also going to point out that you aren't exactly lined up with any of the warehouse's doors, entryways, or garage ports. If you were going to make a run for a warehouse, you'd have to cover more like seventy feet to any entrance and that's not guaranteeing that they are unlocked.
   
   
   
   


5. Any drone flying into this area would be spotted. There's no cover for it and the space overhead isn't high enough for it to go unseen. That's why this wasn't an option.


6. The area around the warehouses is completely sealed off from the road outside. This means that if you were to have dropped anyone off outside of the warehouse area, they could not have gained entrance without coming in through the same way as the van (unless they blew something up). 

The long and short of it is that this meet was planned to put you, the delivering team, in the least favorable position possible and them, the receiving team, in the best. For all you know, they have snipers in the warehouses, they've already laced the ground underfoot with explosive remote mines, they have arranged to have a laser built into the underside of the towers that can incinerate any target they choose beneath it... my point is, they are in control by design. You, good people, aren't dealing with street-level riff-raff here. You're dealing with corporate exec power mongers.

Another area where I feel that I've allowed too much conflict to develop is between the characters themselves. I take full responsibility for this as in a tabletop version of the game, player discussion can often stave off any hard feelings in a way that forums just can't seem to do. In a tabletop environment, I let players work out a lot of details between them and I've been doing that here as well. Which has led to a lot of drama that I'm going to make a GM ruling and clear up. Please just take this as me trying to get everyone on the same page and playing nice.

I'm making the ruling now that in non-time sensitive situations there can be a regular democracy amongst the team to figure out what direction you want to take with things. In these cases, in-character discussion can really slow the game's progress down but it can be a lot of fun character building as well. So, we have a couple of options. We can jump on Discord and iron things out real-time, we can use a Google Doc and real-time/wait for participation in-character discussion and then one of you players will post the results, or we can take the slow route and post in-game. I don't really mind any of those ways, I just want to make sure we aren't miscommunicating intentions or player friendliness for the sake of the grittiness of 'Punk.

In situations where the skill set requires diplomacy, negotiations, etc. (which often includes finding jobs and the situation you now find yourself in) Cred Stick Charlie is in charge by order of Starlight. He's her representative. He's skilled for the job. However, It is a really really rare circumstance where a fixer won't take some muscle along for protection so Espatier, having a couple of solos with Charlie isn't a bad thing so long as they behave.

Echo is the best driver amongst the lot of you. She's Rolling State. That means that while she's very proficient with her weapons (submachine gun in particular), she's also your wheelman. I believe Casino is the next best.

Blossom is a non-combatant unless absolutely necessary. She can throw some constructs into the mix but that's an expensive loss if the construct is defeated. Nanodust ain't cheap. However, despite there being an "Internet for everyone" reality, neighborhoods, organizations, buildings, and even individuals all have private networks which require her to be on-hand to hack. This is why she can't just sit in a hotel room and do her thing.

In a combat situation, Ghlahn, Echo, and Casino are your muscle. Casino has already stepped up wanting to take the leadership role since Vegas (who was acting in the leadership role with the actual Leadership skill is gone), so Casino gets to take charge in combat situations. But make no mistake, Ghlahn is the tank amongst you. 

Fixer and Bloodbank are your support team with Fixer able to tinker, repair, and build most things and Bloodbank able to play combat medic. This doesn't mean that either of them is bad in a fight, just not necessarily your front line. This also doesn't mean that either can't be useful in a Charlie situation.

This is a very well-rounded team. One of the best that I've ever run. You have your muscle, your wheelman, your negotiator/deal finder, your support crew, and your cyberspace gal. Now, the biggest issue has been that you aren't operating as a team. I've even had Blossom make fun of the fact to try and get things back in line. I don't want anyone to feel like they aren't having fun but I also want you to be able to play your characters the way you see fit. If your character doesn't have a lot of empathy or care for human life, you aren't likely going to make a good combat medic and those in the team should be grateful for the Medtech's humanity. The least "human" of you all is really Ghlahn. How you choose to play the morality of your character is your business. Killing innocents, stealing from corporations, mugging the homeless... whatever you choose to do, there are consequences; inner team and otherwise. Bear that in mind. I plan on continuing whoever wants to into the next run (which is rescuing Vegas, if possible) but it stands to reason as well that if there's a serious conflict between characters, some may not want to continue with the team. I am not going to run two separate Cyberpunk campaigns. I don't have the time. So, if you want to continue playing (which I hope you do) than you need to figure out how to make it all cohesive.

Espatier has played Cyberpunk in RL. He's used to the hard ways of the Street and the inhumane behaviors that edgerunners sometimes have to take to survive. That's why he has made some of the OOC comments he's made as well as the IC thoughts and comments that Charlie has made. Tann has played in one of my 'Punk games before... guess what, nearly everyone died. 

That being said, no being mean to each other OOC. Use kind words, tone, and comments and if characters say rude things to each other or behave contrary towards each other, keep in mind that as players, you are all friends and we're here to have fun. If you don't see things the same way, that's fine. But treat each other as friends, please. Everyone here is smart and if you need help familiarizing yourself with the world or system, everyone who is in possession of the knowledge should be extremely helpful in sharing it realizing that I may have homebrewed rules and changes to the world that might differ from what you're used to. 

Okay... summary time so you all know where things stand.

1. The van is already parked thirty feet from the corp vehicles with all of the team having arrived on-scene. 


2. Charlie and Ghlahn were the first to exit the van. Casino already gave orders for Fixer and Bloodbank to stay inside with Rya and Jase until Charlie indicates that they are to be brought out.


3. Echo has been asked by Casino to stay "on him" which means that if she complies your wheelman is not behind the wheel in case you need to make a hasty retreat.


4. Blossom is sitting tight in the back seat and Rya and Jase haven't moved.


5. Casino has also exited the vehicle after asking Blossom to run a face rec on the sec team if she feels it's safe.


6. The sec team and their techhair boss are watching all of this unfold. 


7. No one has gotten out of the aerodyne limo.

Because of the confusion up to this point, I'm going to allow that Charlie has not asked everyone to stay behind seeing as that opportunity has passed (I've deleted the post). Unless he wants to approach the techhair dude all by his lonesome staring down the proverbial barrels of eight super solos, right now he's got Casino and Ghlahn ready to go with him (and potentially Echo if she follows Casino's request).

What I need is for Espatier to post how he wants to cross the fifteen or so feet that he's going to have to cross to meet the techhair guy and his entourage half-way and with whom he's going to do it with. Then, I need each of you to post telling me how you are setting yourselves up for the drop. Afterwards, my post will likely be short, detailing the initial interaction with the sec team. Then you lot will have to post how you're delivering Rya and Jase. Then I'll post receipt.

Thank you. I now return you to your regular programming. 

I've answered the PM, Espatier. I was going to post today and still might if things get updated in time. If not, it may be Monday morning. Either way, it looks like we still have peace amongst the ranks, Charlie is taking lead in this situation, and we await a post from Mischief and Espatier.

FYI - Blossom is just fine staying in the back seat of the van.

CTP, BB would know that there's cyberoptics that allow for infrared vision through the van. Chances are, an executive sec team will be all decked out in cyberwar. Great thinking though! +1 Creative Currency.

Keeper knows his character. Ghlahn is more than a sniper. He's probably the best armored amongst the lot of you.

I will post on Friday, so please wrap up your planning and get your posts in.

Espatier, Mischief, Nomad... if you've got any input, suggestions, questions, now's the time to post them.

Yes... you are in my prayers, Chessic

CTP has a good question.

I personally think it wise to plan things out before posting when I've let you all know that you can. That's just me though.

As for who is at the drop, I made the assumption that everyone is there due tuio no plan staying otherwise being put forward. I've relayed the following to Tann.

This is a really smart meet spot. Your team didn't have time to visit the location beforehand. The only way for Ghlahn and Blossom (and potentially Charlie) to exit the van and still gain line of sight or be useful to the rest of the team would be if you stopped the van in sight of the corporate sec team, exited the vehicle in front of their eyes, and ran to the side buildings. Blossom can either not find any schematics of this location or none exist. Essentially, your team is rendered blind going in and you're flying by the seat of your pants.

It ain't in any way shape or form ideal except that you are competing the gig once the hand off is done. 

1) Edgerunners with optical HUDS mark the width at thirty meters and the length a good two hundred meters. Ok Brom does this mean that there are a number of Guards/Runners clearly watching us as we move past towards the meet? If so how many, what are they wearing, how are they armed, and anything else useful.

- Nope. This means that those of you who have optic HUDs as cyberware get an automatic distance/measurement reading in those HUDs giving you exact measurements.

2) You said it took an hour for us to reach the meet, that would give Blossom enough time to call up the site and the area around it on her laptop to give us a sky view look correct?

- Yup. But seeing how these warehouses are underneath two additional levels of city (hundreds of levels in each city level) there wouldn't be any satellite imagery. So, she can run a search for any schematics that the opensource world may have on the exact coordinates but chances are, there's nothing to work with.

3) Is Starlight supposed to be at the meet or only those that hired her?

- Nope. Starlight is injured. That's why Charlie is there. Charlie is the faceman, the frontman, the specialist in dealing with negotiations, business, finding things... you know, all those things that Casino is not.

Ok based on your answers I'll most likely have a few more and once question and answer class is over I'll get my post up, though I do have bits of one in mind.

The post is up!

I had to make some assumptions because no plan was actually put in motion with your last posts. If there's anything that you want to back-post to play out, feel free. If there's anything I had your characters do that you don't think they'd do, let me know and we'll work out whatever we need to change.

By the way, everyone's share of the van rental equates to roughly 4.29 credits apiece per day. Add on the taxi fare for Charlie, Echo, and Ghlahn split seven ways and you have an additional 10 credits apiece for a total of 18.58 (picked the van up on Sunday and it is now Monday equalling two days so far) credits being subtracted from each of your character sheets.

Charlie also earned 1 IP in Streetwise.

Any questions, feel free to ask. As all of your characters are in one location, if you'd like to plan out your actions, you may do so here and then post for your characters. Any collaborative writing being done, please include me.

I look forward to your posts!

X00032:8.Y00001:12.Z00054:5, On the Mean Streets | South Night City Integrate | Midcity | UrbanZone - March 9th, Day 3 (Sunday), 01:50 PM PST

Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15 mph winds from the NE.) | Midcity (Rain, 10mph winds from the NE.) | Undercity (Fog and Rain, no winds.)

Air Quality Index: High City = 25 | Midcity = 42 | Undercity = 75 (masks required)

Ghlahn relates the conversation while Jase climbs up on the bed and returns to Rya’s side, a look of consternation on his young face. A look that grows even more intense as the conversation between the edgerunners progresses. The debate over what to do with Rya and Jase is mitigated by a combined effort of Casino and Charlie, keeping everyone calm and open to discussion. Eventually, however reluctantly by some, it is decided that Jase is going to the drop in the morning. That’s what the team was hired to do and that’s what they’ll execute. Reputation is too valuable on the Street to squander. 

“I’m going too,” Rya proclaims once the decision is made. “I will never be separated from my hijo again.”

Warnings are given the woman by various members of the group—the more empathetic members—but she insists. After a few minutes of back and forth, the team lets the subject rest. Rya is determined to accompany Jase to the drop. Fixer sends Blossom a message asking after any dirt on Rya and hopes she will receive the message even though she’s jacked in.

With at least some kibble in their stomachs, the team returns to their various tasks. Echo, with her unwavering energy, continues to keep watch on the street below. Charlie accepts the team’s decision to get one vehicle keeping everyone together. Looking over his list, he selects the Four Dynasty Ram Pro and sends off the first message in what was more than likely going to be a negotiation. Casino continues to scan channels, but even with over seven hundred stations, he’s unable to find anything having to do with their firefight in the slums. Fixer returns from checking out the aerodyne and gives Charlie the thumbs up. Bloodbank sits himself turned about on the couch so he can also look out the window along with the nomad and the cyborg. They’ve got almost a full nineteen hours to kill and no one is certain that they’ve seen the last of the second team.

Despite his best efforts, Charlie isn’t able to get the rental price any lower. The price is 30/day and the other side of the deal is a hardened dealer. The ride will seat the entire team plus Rya and Jase comfortably. It’s an unarmored wheeled vehicle, but beggars can’t be choosers. The deal is set and a pick-up time of 1700 hours is set, giving the team a couple of hours to drop off the aerodyne and pick up the van.

It’s decided that Cred Stick Charlie will be accompanied by Ghlahn and Echo while Casino remains behind to keep everyone else safe. Ghlahn is by far the tank in this team and Echo’s experience with the Rolling State will be helpful when they inspect the van. The three leave shortly thereafter.

Luther sets up the meet with Fluke of the Vagabond Santiagos, a group of low life nomads according to Echo. Thanks to her caution, the three are prepared when Fluke attempts to weasel some additional funds out of them. Unfortunately, it does take Ghlahn’s enforcer muscles to make the Vagabond Santiagos stand down. Fortunately, between Echo’s knowledge of the Rolling State’s politics and Charlie’s sweet-talking, the aerodyne is left with Fluke and his crew without any additional fees being attached and no lifeblood spilled. 

On to the other meet in a robo taxi that the whole team pitched in for, the three arrive at their destination with a few minutes to spare. Ghlahn and Echo survey the car dealership and mark the very heavy security. Meat and metal guards this facility which doesn’t surprise Charlie. Lom “Big Dog” Khasanov is a high-ranking member of the Chechen gang, The Liberated. This is his operation. Warning Ghlahn and Echo to keep cool, Charlie leads them into the dealership, meets up with the sales manager, and without ever meeting “Big Dog,” delivers his cred chip number to the manager. Receiving the smart key, the team accepts their van and are on their way back to the hotel without any problems. Dealing with professionals has its perks.

It is close to 1900 hours when the three, Echo behind the wheel, pull into the hotel’s garage. Cautious in their return to the room, they make sure they aren’t being followed. Reunited, the team sets up their night schedule.

Casino is up first followed by Ghlahn. Echo will bring them into the morning hours while everyone else gets a much-needed full night's sleep. Though, for the most part, that isn’t possible for almost any of them. 

Everyone is awake and geared up by 0700 Monday morning. Jase looks like he is terrified and about to cry, constantly clinging to Rya’s side. Rya also looks scared but she is doing her best to put on a brave face saying things like, “It’ll be okay, hijo.” and, “I’m with you.”

Echo is once again driving as she’s the most skilled with this kind of vehicle. Charlie sits shotgun. Behind the driver’s seat sits Bloodbank with Casino across from him. Next are Rya and Jase with Fixer, Blossom, and Ghlahn in the back bench seat. Driving around the area will hopefully throw anyone off their scent if there is anyone still hunting them. And that’s what Echo does. 

Blossom leans over to Fixer and whispers, “She’s clean. At least, no police record and her last listed residence is a pretty nice conapt prefab in MidCity. Her tax records indicate that she worked for a hospital in Upper.”

At that moment, Charlie receives the coordinates from Starlight. 

X00054:8.Y00030:12.Z00032:25

This puts them in Undercity and closer to the water. It takes the team just about an hour to reach the site. Was someone aware of their location to plan it so perfectly? 

The coordinates are a series of warehouses tucked in the shadows of a tower extension that blocks out any light that may have reached these city depths. The exact location of the drop is between two buildings in a stretch of cracked pavement road big enough for a team of semi-trucks to drive side-by-side through it. Edgerunners with optical HUDS mark the width at thirty meters and the length a good two hundred meters. In the center of the lane there are two black sedans with completely tinted windows and a black aerodyne limo behind them, currently resting. As Echo pulls the van in close, the sedans’ doors open and nine people get out, all of them in black suits with armored overcoats. It isn’t hard to recognize corporate exec level security details and this is definitely one. The ninth individual to get out is a smaller man with slicked-back TechHair® that shifts in color from deep blue to deep red and back again. He’s definitely marked with NuCybe lines about his eyes and throat. He’s obviously the one in charge as he steps forward.

“Please,” Jase tries one last time. “Please just don’t give me over to her!”

“Shhh, Jase,” Rya whispers. “These people were hired to do a job and they are professionals. We must accept our fates.”

(OOC: March 10th, Day 4 - Monday, Time is 08:57 AM PST - Undercity, Waterside X00054:8.Y00030:12.Z00032:25, South Night City Integrate.)

I will do my best to get a post up today but definitely no later than tomorrow. Thanks for your patience everyone!

Questions:

1. What are the dimensions of the pressurized mechanism container in the coffin?


2. What's the bite radius on Quincy Morris' throat?


3. Are the bite radiuses of the other victims is the same size as Morris'?


4. How much ammo is in the Captain's gun and would Wyatt be able to tell if the caliber of round used in the Captain's gun is approximately the same as the wound in Lucy's head?


5. What does the note say?

There... I think that should give everyone quite a bit to work with. Before ejecting bodies or putting them on ice () I'd like to know a bit more of what's going on. Whether there's any virus or disease in the air, etc. We've been on board for over 4 hours. We've less than four before we need to be on the move and there are a lot of salvageable items on this vessel. So, Wyatt would like to make short work of what we can without cutting corners on safety.

Thanks for the post, Roger!

The sweep of the ship: 

Entering the Weapons Control Room Wyatt considers their discoveries thus far. The stakes and mallets are certainly weird 'nough. Why're these names ringin' a bell in my brainpan? Harker... it's all on the tip o' my tongue but... Proceeding carefully through his check, the captain decides to put more minds to the riddle. 

"Either o' you have any inclin' of some memory containin' things 'bout this ship? Names an' such?"

(OOC: answers/convo as it happens)

"Wolf," Wyatt breaks radio. "There's a weapons control room here. When you got everythin' settled in Engineerin', come on up here an' see what we can do t' get this weapon online. We might be able t' get more off this ship than some boxed goods if'n we can find a way t' get 'er to a shipyard."

The exploration team moves on, stepping cautiously into the storage room through the dented door. Gravity is beginning to kick in. The EV suits feel heavier. Stormy eyes survey the mess before moving in to investigate more directly. It isn't the Steel storage crates and other equipment including survival packs, environmental suits, food stores, and medical supplies that catch his eye. What does is what appears to be the object that dented the door: a coffin—A real hard-wood coffin. The lid is closed but there is lots of that silver paint all through this room. There are a few pieces of metal on the ground as well that appear to be platinum ingots but, after closer inspection, are not platinum. They are a grey metal with some of the silver paint still on it.

Grimly rising from his crouched inspection, feeling like the whole treasure rumor was just a ruse, Wyatt approaches the coffin and spares a glance at his companions to register any objections before opening it. The coffin is filled with bars upon bars on the same grey metal with silver paint. The pieces beneath are fully painted silver and look like platinum ingots. The padding in the lid of the coffin has been torn, showing a mechanism that held something pressurized in it. An examination of the device shows it was designed to activate on a timer after the lid was open for the first time.

"Well... I'm beginnin' t' have my doubts 'bout the credibility o' them rumors," Sung mutters, eyeballing the painted bars. Taking a deep breath of his canned air, the captain resists the urge to shake his head in disappointment and sweeps his hand across the stores of additional goods. "At least these things might be worth somethin'.

"Let's move on," he turns and heads for the damaged door keying his mic. "Note, we got some potential in the storage room. Also, looks like they might've been lyin' 'bout the platinum on board Demeter. That silver stuff we've been seein' floatin' 'round looks like paint used t' disguise cargo as platinum."

Moving further down the hallway, the group comes across a dead body. The uniform is marked with “Quincy Morris.” He has a vicious looking wound on his throat that looks like he was bitten by something.

"Got another floater," Wyatt frowns as he relays the information across their comms. "Only..." he steps up and turns the body so he can better examine the wound. "... looks like he was attacked by somethin'. His throat is torn out.

"Doc, this ain't a knife wound. Some kind of animal near as I can tell."

(OOC: whatever convo happens...)

Cautiously moving on to the Environmental Control room, Wyatt immediately notes the dead woman. The dead crewmember is a woman with the label “Mina Murray”. She also has a neck wound and several bite marks on her arm. 

"Doc, got another abused body. This one's in the Environmental Control room an' if I were a bettin' man, I'd say these are defensive wounds on her arm. The neck wound looks 'bout the same. Want us t' bring these back t' the medbay?"

(OOC: Answers, Discussion)

Motioning his team to move on, Wyatt leads them into the Ion Energy Cannon Generator room where the Ion Cannon gathers its energy to be fired. It is humming loudly.

"Wolf, Pops, this energy cannon generator seems t' be workin'. I don't think we're gonna stick around here much longer."

Leaving the generator room, Wyatt leads the team into the Main Sensor Access chamber. Sensor power is regulated and routed through this room to the deck below. As this ship was originally a science exploration vessel, it has a powerful set of sensors. Moving to the controls, Wyatt performs a cursory assessment against any visible wear and tear. 

"Fox, you think you an' Pops can relay Demeter's sensor readings and controls through t' Destiny? I don't reckon we've enough time t' install these components or arrays on our girl so that's the next best thing."

(OOC: Conversation/replies)

With the sensor room surveyed, Wyatt takes the lead to Deck 3 through the hatch in the floor and into the Sensors/Communications chamber. All accessible equipment for sensor and communication control is in this room. Modifications and reprogramming can only be done from this location as these functions are not able to be modified from the bridge. The room appears to have experienced little of what the rest of the ship has undergone and Captain Sung moves his crew to the next chamber in short order.

Monitoring stations for the main sensor array along with the four wave generators that are the heart of the ship’s massive sensor package is located here. A ladder leads upward to a hatch leading to room 2c on Deck 2. There are three dead alliance officers here (two men, one woman), tied up at the bottom of the ladder. Their uniforms are from the unification war. None of them have bite marks and their uniforms labels read, Stoker, Shelley, and Stevenson.

Stoker... Shelley... Harker... Where've I heard these names before? "Got three dead Alliance. Looks like they was prisoners. Still in uniform, still bound." Quickly examining them, he confirms, "None of these have any wounds. They likely died suffocating or when the ship was depressurized." Keeping his own feelings about the Alliance getting what they deserved, Wyatt moved on to the Bridge. 

The bridge contains three massive view screens along the forward wall and two sides, three computer stations along the rear of the room, and a dropped station area for the four crew on duty at all times. A Captain’s chair sits on a pedestal in the center of the room. In the captain’s chair is man’s body, strapped in with the full harness locked and with a thick blanket wrapped around him. In his right hand, trapped in a frozen grip, is an independent's gun. On the side arm of the chair, is a note taped with duct tape, folded and labeled “To Lily.”

"Well, hello Captain," Wyatt declares solemly before looking down at the other body, gravity in full effect now. 

On the floor of the bridge, about 6 feet away from the Captain is another dead crewmember. Her label says “Lucy Westena” and she was shot through the head, most likely before she was frozen. She does not have any bite marks that you can see.

Taking the handgun between two fingers, Wyatt lifts the gun, hand, and arm to look the weapon over. "I'm easy t' make the observation that the cap'n shot her dead, but why?" Replacing the arm with the weapon back on the rest, Wyatt tears free the note and carefully opens it up so not to tear it. After reading it, he passes the note to his companions. When they've finished reading it, he folds it back up and places it in one of the EV suit's pockets.

Just then, a feminine voice intones across the speakers: “Life support restored to breathable limits:” and then repeats the same in Cantonese.

"Keep yer suits on and sealed for the moment, folks," Wyatt orders. "Doc, can you run a diagnostic scan on the air in this bird? I don't want t' be surprised by no contagion. How's the rest of you doin'? Report in. That includes you Ivy-girl."

Isn't it funny how we can all supposedly be working from home in quarantine (except Olan, of course) and we still don't have the time for our games?

It looks like most of the crew is still here, Mr. Universe.

Update: I'm still working with Olan to fix Mischief's account. At this point, I've asked him to blow the account away and we'll have Mischief create a new one. He's a busy fellow, so I hope to see that happen sooner rather than later. Once Mischief is back operational, I'll update the game and we'll roll forward.

Thank you, everyone, for your patience.

I'm here. I'll be really active again starting Monday.