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You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> Recent posts by Bromern Sal
Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Not a problem, Ody.


'Punk isn't for everyone.

All right gatos, I've posted. Looking forward to your posts this week.

Posted on 2016-05-09 at 14:32:41.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A Night City Adventure
Subject: Moving along


The Rat Pack Night Club | Night City Integrate | Midcity | UrbanZone - Day 2 (Saturday), 1:17 AM PST
Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph 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)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well Love," Vegas responded glibly to Chela's friendly greeting. "It has been way too long since we have seen your smiling face too."

"Ever the sweet-talker," Chela shifted weight from her left foot to her right while Vegas looked longingly into her deep brown eyes.

"The Handle of my dour friend here is Fixer," the dapper solo demurely mumbled just loud enough to be heard over Sammy 2.0. "Fixer, this is Chela. As for a stiff one...make mine...bourbon on the rocks! What about you boys?"

Fixer replied with a short, quick, unjudging order, "A clean water, on the rocks." He did not drink even when things were chill, and now they were on the job. He would not judge those that did however, everybody had their own habits and faults. He would, however, keep an eye out on their surrounding and the full crowd, never could be too cautious. Trust was a hard commodity to buy.

"Make mine a rum and coke," Casino requested with a friendly nod. Chela was always polite to him, but the big gunman knew that she was really Vegas' friend, and if the cards were to hit the table wrong for him—unless Vegas' situation was on the line too—Chela was as reliable as anyone else in this club.

Vegas leaned forward towards Chela to enjoy a playful nibble at her right ear, while whispering huskily, "Hey Babe... Any choombas here at the Rat Pack into keeping company with young boys?"

Chela giggled, playfully pushing aside the Suited Solo's amorous advance, before returning another light kiss on his cheek with her own husky reply, "Listen, sugar. You didn't hear this from me, but there's a cat with a pretty dark side that's resting his feet back at Table Nine. He goes by Dauntless Dog, and he's a player for the Mob as I hear tell. He's got a couple of Thicks with him that run interference should anyone try to get close, and they don't look like no carpetbaggers either. I've caught pieces of convo when setting him up and it would seem to me that his interests run a little young. He's cold as a naked Eskimo, Vegas-baby, and if I was you, I'd steer clear."

"What's the chance of you setting up a meet for me Darling?"

Chela tried to hide the alarm in her eyes and voice as the waitress placed a pen on the table in front of Vegas, along with a cocktail napkin. "I suggest you buy Dog a White Russian to sweeten your request. I can deliver both his favorite drink and your message at the same time, honey. But I sure wish you wouldn't as sweet Virgin Mary is my witness."

Vegas responded to her cue by writing a simple message with a flamboyant flair of the pen upon the cocktail napkin: Where would I find some fresh and untainted young boy? The message was bold, to the point, and very risky.

Chela leaned over discreetly to palm the napkin without looking at the message and retrieved her pen while she was at it. Meanwhile, the Sammy Davis Jr. look-alike had vacated the microphone after a steady round of applause for his closing number.

The Stage Manager and MC, a black fellow wearing a gray pin-striped zootsuit with slicked back, product-filled hair by the name of Tonell Dunn, waited for the applause to die down, before making a special announcement to the gathered throng of Rat Packers.

"Ladeez and Gentlemen! We have a slight intermission before our next performer hits the stage, but I see an old friend and crooner in the crowd who may be persuaded to sing us a tune!" Dunn motioned with both hands for the crowd to respond with a great round of applause to persuade the unknown crooner to accept the invitation. As the Rat Packers looked around the room with quizzical expressions, the MC played the crowd for all they were worth, only proceeding as the applause died down. "VEGAS! Come on down and sing us a song!"

The Frank Sinatra look-alike rises slowly to his feet, excusing himself from the table, while playing along to the crowd. The Suited Solo did a slow soft shoe for the spotlight that was panning over the crowd before reaching the stage and quickly side-stepping up the stairs to take his place at the microphone. Vegas thanks Dunn and the gracious crowd of Rat Packers before launching into his introductory monologue to break the ice.

"You know where I like singing best?" Vegas lowered his head and shook it with a wry smile before looking back up at the audience with a twinkle in his eye. "Nope. Not in the shower. I'm a bath man myself. I was always too skinny for a shower. The water kept missing me on both sides. But it ain't been missing me lately, I'll tell you that. But given the choice, I'd rather sing with people in front of me. Because I love seein' them sitting out there, because when they're sittin', they ain't coming up here to get me. Yup. Nice, smiling, receptive, unarmed people. Because when all's said and done, whether a performer is all by himself in a recording studio, or facing a lonely camera on an empty sound stage, it's the People he's trying to reach. And it's the People who make you, and if you aren't doing your proper work...it's the people who's gonna break ya. So, I gotta get back to work before I get my old job back.

"Oh, I had an old job. I was the house comic for the Creshetti Pasta and Olive Oil Company. You know what a thrill it is to get attacked by a herd of wet laguini?

"Anyway, here's our latest reprise release. It's a good tune, and the lyrics'll give you something to think about."

Vegas wasted no time in breaking into song while the live band backed him up. While it isn't the best performance Casino has heard Vegas give, it is enough to keep the crowd jazzed. From the stage, Vegas' line of sight was a little obstructed by the bright lights, but he was able to follow Chela as she made her way off to the far right until she vanished in the bright glare. About half-way through That's Life she reemerged from the bar area with a tray and four drinks. She swung her path back around to the table and placed three of the drinks down on coasters before continuing on to stop in front of another booth in a position where the three goons seated there could watch the entire floor from the entry to the stage. She was stopped there by one of the well-dressed muscle rising to his feet and holding up a hand.

Vegas, from your vantage it's difficult to see anything other than general shapes and sizes. When comparing the height and build of the gato who intercepted your message to that of the smaller Chela, he's a giant. Maybe someone more the size of Casino. But that's really all that you can see.

Casino, you've been distracted. There's a back room game going on that caught your eye when a waitress took drinks through a private room door. Unfortunately, this is what's been occupying your attention since catching sight.

Fixer, you've managed to stay really focused and from your vantage, you can see the table that Chela approached in much greater detail. The first bodyguard is indeed as big as Casino, maybe even a little bigger. He's definitely outfitted with an OldCybe arm and hand, has a neural link and smartgun corded right into his suitcoat. The second bodyguard is of lighter frame, but still a brute. He's a Polynesian with a shaved head, tattoos on his skull, and a neck that bulges from his collar. He has an OldCybe visor, a definite neural implant with a wired smartgun, and some of the meatiest fists you've ever seen. The third fellow at the table is a block of ice; broad in the shoulders with a custom-tailored black suit and a bowler cap, he chews on an unlit cigar as he eyeballs Chela with absolutely no emotion evident on his craggy face. You can easily wonder why that fellow even needs bodyguards to begin with, he's such a shadow of Hell's finest.

The standing bodyguard picks up the drink and sniffs it, swirling the milky brown liquid inside while he does so. Fixer, you catch a slight shake of his head before he sets it back on Chela's tray. Then, the big man picks up the napkin and sniffs this as well before handing it to the seated iceman. This individual looks at the napkin for a bit, crumples it up, and then tosses it on the table inciting the other bodyguard to rise up from his seat and Chela to take a couple of steps back, spin on her heel, and strides quickly away. The three mobsters move as one unit walking slowly and confidently towards the door.

It's obvious to you Fixer, that whatever Vegas wrote on that napkin drove the dangerous men away rather than setting up a meet. Vegas, you can see the men leaving, but you couldn't see the facial expressions or exchange due to the lights. Casino, you've still not noticed the exchange.

The Train | Night City Integrate | Undercity into Midcity | UrbanZone - Day 2 (Saturday), 12:35 - 1:17 AM PST
Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph 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)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bloodbank let a bemused half-smile play onto his lips and glanced at Blossom. "Traveling like royalty, eh?" he stated, raising his eyebrows slightly before handing over a couple of Night City Dollars. "For my ticket cost." he explained.

Bloodbank leaned back into the hard plastic, and rubbed his chin. There were three other people in the train car besides the Edgerunners, all of whom seemed to be pretty uninterested in the other inhabitants of fluorescent lit train car. That didn't quite convince Bloodbank, though, who had been around long enough to know that, indeed, looks could be deceiving. Silently, Bloodbank studied them, but couldn't tell a thing about them other than the surface story.

"So," Echo stated, elongating the oooo just a little. "How are we planning to handle the checkpoints?"

Leaning forward to peer past Blossom and look at Echo, Bloodbank bit the inside of his cheek. "Well," he said in a low voice. "I personally think that we'd do best by slipping through the maintenance tunnels. Usually, in my experience, those are locked up tight, though. So, we'd need to think up of a way to distract the guards while we make our way in. As for that, though, well..." Bloodbank glanced at Blossom. "I was thinking that you might be able to take control of one of the mechs and cause a bit of a diversion by the actual checkpoint. Perhaps a small, unnoticeable construct. Like a fly or somethin' that can fly around and land on a mech, giving you the access. Or, is that not how it works? I admit, I'm better with people then machines." He grinned, and leaned back again, his eyes still on Blossom.

"Nice thinking, Ripperdoc," Ghlahn sneers. "But starting a wildfire isn't exactly the result we're looking for."

"I like your idea, Bloodbank," Echo ignores Ghlahn's criticism. "Blossom?"

(OOC: Assuming a response similar to the statements in Q&A thread to the negative.)

"OK," Echo looks thoughtful and chews on the inside of her cheek for a moment while considering the options. "I still think that Bloodbank's access tunnel idea is our best option."

"Sure," Ghlahn snorts. "It's our only option. Question is how to get through the gate without being seen and reported. Got any more smart ideas, Bloodbank?"

"Ignore him," Echo practically whispers. "He's compensating for something.

"What about causing some sort of mechanical trouble with the train, tracks, or signage?" Echo offers.

"How about we just push someone onto the tracks and make our way through the gate in the commotion?" Ghlahn grins at the idea.

"You're a bastard," Echo glares at him in return, then glances at the notification display over the door. "We need a plan in the next five-minutes. We're almost there."

"Well, while you're dismissing my idea out of hand," the sniper shrugs. "You might as well figure out how to get through the inevitable lock on the gate otherwise, we might as well just turn back now.

Posted on 2016-05-09 at 14:31:04.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Ody, Hammer, and Giddy


Check your email (the one you have listed in your RDINN account). I sent a link to the character sheet stored on Google Drive for you to review.

Nice post, Hammer. Check your PMs.

You're forgiven for your absence, Giddy. This once.

In order for Blossom to fake a signal, she'd need to wardrive the city systems, the security systems, or some of the emergency responder systems. In order to wardrive, she needs to be able to access a datapoint. The only datapoint she could access from inside the station would be that of the security booth itself, and she'd have to be inside the booth with the security guards to do that, or cut into the system from the outside of the booth which would require heavy-grade cutting tools capable of cutting through cement and metal.

The mechs are active. They constantly scan faces in the crowd and are outfitted with highly-sensitive sensors that can detect elevated heart rates, blood pressure, and tell-tale signs of extreme duress. But, as you've suggested, their Friend/Foe algorithms will not declare a foe unless commanded by the security staff, or the threat has obviously escalated requiring their services. Again, in order to take control of the mechs, Blossom would have to physically connect with—or use a construct to physically connect with—the mech and wardrive.

The scan stations are high-tech. Think of the airport security we have now and add biometric and cyberware scanning, facial recognition, and a catalog of known weaponry that the scanning searches against.

Here's a map of the train station for your viewing pleasure.

High City Train Station Map

Posted on 2016-05-06 at 18:38:19.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Provided.


I've shared the character of Ghlahn on Google Drive, Ody. For more information on CyberPunk, check the first post of this Q&A thread.

Posted on 2016-05-06 at 10:18:13.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Hello Ody!


You are more than welcome, Ody.

We've two characters available. Echo, who is a female nomad, and Ghlahn, who is a male sniper/solo. Which would you be interested in taking over?

Posted on 2016-05-05 at 15:02:31.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Great questions!


No apology necessary.

As far as obvious ways around the checkpoint... that would kind of defeat the purpose. Now, are there possibilities to investigate? Sure. Imagine the train station as something similar to modern day subways, or underground rails. You have platforms on either side of the tracks, and the tracks run through a transit tube. There would likely be maintenance routes, drainage lines, and the like throughout the transit tube. The checkpoint would be the only legitimate way out of the train station and into High City.

Once out of the train station, you have any number of streets to progress along, but all will eventually lead to a checkpoint. To avoid the checkpoints you'd have to find passages through buildings (one building to another, one balcony to another, one tier to another, etc., or endure a checkpoint.

Have you seen Total Recall? Either one really. There's a security checkpoint that the Quaid goes through wearing that large woman's face. It's kind of the same thing. You walk through a scanning machine that is geared to read cyberware, biometrics, and potential weapons. It scans your face and runs it against known criminals in the database. If it finds weapons, you are required to provide proof of license and a work identification for the corporation that vouches for you. If you don't have that... well, you're in trouble. If you have any illegal cyberware... well, you're in trouble.

Now, having said that, there's always a chance you could try to bribe one of the security guards. If you want to risk it.

You don't need to be a resident of High City to wander about, visit the shops, restaurants, parks, etc. So you don't need to worry about that.

I hope this answers your questions.

Posted on 2016-05-04 at 17:27:17.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Great questions!


No apology necessary.

As far as obvious ways around the checkpoint... that would kind of defeat the purpose. Now, are there possibilities to investigate? Sure. Imagine the train station as something similar to modern day subways, or underground rails. You have platforms on either side of the tracks, and the tracks run through a transit tube. There would likely be maintenance routes, drainage lines, and the like throughout the transit tube. The checkpoint would be the only legitimate way out of the train station and into High City.

Once out of the train station, you have any number of streets to progress along, but all will eventually lead to a checkpoint. To avoid the checkpoints you'd have to find passages through buildings (one building to another, one balcony to another, one tier to another, etc., or endure a checkpoint.

Have you seen Total Recall? Either one really. There's a security checkpoint that the Quaid goes through wearing that large woman's face. It's kind of the same thing. You walk through a scanning machine that is geared to read cyberware, biometrics, and potential weapons. It scans your face and runs it against known criminals in the database. If it finds weapons, you are required to provide proof of license and a work identification for the corporation that vouches for you. If you don't have that... well, you're in trouble. If you have any illegal cyberware... well, you're in trouble.

Now, having said that, there's always a chance you could try to bribe one of the security guards. If you want to risk it.

You don't need to be a resident of High City to wander about, visit the shops, restaurants, parks, etc. So you don't need to worry about that.

I hope this answers your questions.

Posted on 2016-05-04 at 17:26:36.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Checkpoints and Surveillance


Good questions, Ayrn. There are two registered checkpoints between you and the school. These are Highcity security checkpoints that likely consist of heavily armed security personnel and mecha. The biomonitors about Highcity are similar to the surveillance system in London, yes. But you shouldn't expect them to set off alarms unless you're a known criminal registered with Night City Police. You can also expect a security checkpoint at the entrances/exits to the school, but these are manned by IntCOP, and you don't currently know what to expect from their security.

When Echo asks about the checkpoints, she'll confirm that she's asking after the two between you and the school. Any of you could easily pull the checkpoint locations off your agents. One will be at the train station entering Highcity, and the other is about 15-minutes into your walk to the school on the main route.

Posted on 2016-05-04 at 10:30:22.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: I'm sorry that you're having to go through that.


Thank you for letting us know, and we'll keep you in our prayers.

Posted on 2016-05-03 at 00:13:53.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: The game is a foot, or an arm... or something.


All is a go, chombattas. the party is split, please pay attention to time frames, weather conditions, etc.

Ayrn, the searches return non-privatized information. That some information doesn't come up... well, you'll have to come to your own conclusion.

Looking forward to how you all proceed.

Posted on 2016-05-02 at 11:19:58.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A Night City Adventure
Subject: Rolling, rolling, rolling...


Night City Integrate | Undercity | OceanZone - Day 2 (Saturday), 12:02 AM PST
Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph 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)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It has been decided. Led by the soft-shoe, the newly formed team steps from the shack of a smelly office back into the factory setting of the fish processing plant. The first thing that you easily take notice of is that there are no more of the Gray Samurai about running security. Workers in white overcoats with waterproof gloves and cheap air filtration masks barely cast glances your way as you exit the building. They know better than to engage with strange, dangerous-looking people. They are the sheep with digital dreams that make up the ninety-nine percent, and they are content with their stock in life.

A slight misting of rainwater has made it through the numerous structures overhead. It feels sticky and slightly acidic; a reminder that the air quality is poor. The street is cracked and mended with a series of tarsnakes. It glistens and reflects the ghostly lights of Midcity overhead in pools of oil-tainted puddles. You've entered into the wee hours of a Saturday morning in Night City. Just because it's after midnight doesn't mean that the city sleeps. On the contrary, this is the Witching Hour. This is the time that the more colorfully dangerous elements start to prowl. In OceanZone they're called Sharks. Predators that hunt through the streets, graze the docks, and bring nightmares with them.

Casino, Vegas, and Fixer take your leave. There's a walk ahead for all of you. The nearest public transit tube is a good twenty from your 10-20, but you three are going in the opposite direction from the others. Sightseeing isn't an option. You've a mission on hand and the clock waits for no man. Casino's size is a plus. Three of you together is also playing in your favor. However, there's always the potential of some drugged out punk going ballistic so it's best to keep eyes peeled. And it pays off.

Nearly fifteen-minutes into your progress, Casino catches sight of a lurker trying his best to vanish into the darker recesses of the mouth of an alley you three were destined to cross. The being's intent stare triggered the large solo's Spidey Senses, and moments later his Amped Vision spots additional figures within easy response time. It is most certainly an ambush, but one that is put off with a quick showdown. The posers are dressed to kill, wearing clothing that dates back further than Vegas' attire with ruffles and frills, half-capes, and canes. Their teeth are filed to points, or dental inserts have been added, giving them vampire fangs—a couple may have even had cybernetic Vampires®, and chances are (seeing as how they are Vampire Posers) they likely had boosted reflexes, even adjusted internal organs to give them the appearance of immortality. It could have been bloody, but instead the encounter ends with hissing, a show of strength, and passing the lair by, leaving the vamps to prey on some other unlucky soul.

For Blossom, Bloodbank, Echo, and Ghlahn the walk from the fish factory to your first stop is much less eventful. An alleycat is startled, two junkies are run off by a smirking Ghlahn, and a couple of doors are opened, and quickly closed at the sight of you, but you reach the Wall-to-Wall Mart unmolested, so that counts for something.

The superstore is tucked into the base of a monstrous gray NuCrete® building with faded blue steel supports that ram straight into the underside of the overhanging residential pods above. There's routes into the store's underground parking garages on either side and some ground vehicles are still making their way in and out. Even at close to 12:30 AM the store is bustling with all walks of life entering and exiting. Undercity's Wall-to-Wall Marts are protected by imposing Mechs, usually supplied by the mother corporation, Simco Supplies, LTD. In this case, there's an impressive four-legged walking armory standing guard at the front scanning each and every individual that enters the store. Security is not taken lightly when any major mishaps could deter the 99% from returning to an outlet and spending their hard-earned paycheck on necessities. Luckily, entering the store isn't on the agenda.

To the left of the entrance are a series of vending machines. Everything from designer, low caliber handguns to chipware can be purchased through vending machines. In this case, Blossom is looking for a disposable SINcard dispenser. One hundred and ten NCDs later and the bubbly little netrunner is the proud owner of a bright pink, Bubblegum Diaries branded SINcard with one hundred Night City Dollars attached. Now it's time to catch the train, and you're in luck. A public transit tube runs right through to the store's location. To get to the train station nearest Bartholomew School costs four NCDs apiece. From there, you have a twenty-minute walk taking you through two security checkpoints. The first checkpoint is leaving the transit tube. The second is on the main street fifteen-minutes into your journey.

Your section of the train is cast in a pale white glow of poorly-powered LED lighting. The air about you has an electric feel to it and an odor to match. If you try to get on the train without paying for your first stop, the door emits an electrical charge that will send you backwards a few steps. Citizens have learned to enter one at a time, and to provide those in front with plenty of room to be expelled. Blossom foots the bill for the lot of you and you're in.

The seats are a hard, dark blue plastic. They're scarred, graffitied, and mistreated, but they are secure. Garbage wrappers float about underneath like discarded ghosts; speedsheets, maps, and food wrappers are among them. There are fluids as well. Undecipherable, smelly, liquids pooled in places where the flooring has sunk. Some are dark, at least one might contain blood, but all are easily avoided. Along with the faint lighting, the car is cast in various hues and shades as the entire ceiling and upper portions of the walls are lit with various digital advertising. Old Spice Male Hygeine Kits, women's hair removal products, clothing lines, vacation suites, LEO packages, they bombard you with their constant marketing, and each includes an Agent Ordering Code for immediate purchase.

The Rat Pack Night Club | Night City Integrate | Midcity | UrbanZone - Day 2 (Saturday), 1:12 AM PST
Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph 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)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three NCDs apiece (nine total) and Time. That's the expense to reach the Rat Pack Night Club. The tier within which the club resides is primarily shops, restaurants, and other clubs. The main street doesn't connect directly with a roundabout which means that you three had to hoof it down adjacent streets in order to reach your destination. The exterior of the building is done up in an art deco style with neon tubes about the windows and a damp, water-droplet covered canopy over the door. Robots are expensive and the domain of mega or neo corps. Night club owners still stick with meatsuits to guard their investment. That's who greets you. Two huge black bouncers with OldCybe apparent in their wired smartguns and optic visors. These two are vaguely familiar, and seem to recognize Vegas and Casino, so you're allowed in without delay and only a ten NCD covercharge instead of the usual fifteen.

The Rat Pack is hopping. Denizens of Night City dressed in zoot suits and evening dresses flit about the dance floor while a Sammy Davis, Jr. look-alike croons Mr. Bojangles from a brightly lit stage. About the dance floor many clubbers are nursing drinks in cushioned booths with neon light accents while conversing over the sultry sounds of Mr. Show Business. Through all of this it takes a moment for Vegas to spot Chela, and it takes you finding a booth in her area, and another couple of minutes for her to reach you, before you can strike up conversation.

"Well, hello there, Vegas!" Chela smiles sweetly as she quickly leans in and kisses your cheek lightly so as not to leave any of the bright red lipstick she's wearing on your skin. "Casino! It's good to see you two lugs. It's been a while." Her friendly brown eyes fall on Fixer and she makes a quick assessment. "Who's your dour friend, love? And what can I get you boys to drink. You look like you could use a stiff one."

The Train | Night City Integrate | Undercity into Midcity | UrbanZone - Day 2 (Saturday), 12:35 - 1:12 AM PST
Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph 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)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your train car is much the same as the others'. Blue seats, trash, an odor in the air that paints your tongue with rancid flavor and a sensory depravating array of video advertising. Ghlahn and Echo take either side almost naturally, and add opposite sides of the car to the setup just in case leaving Blossom and Bloodbank to sit between them. This is the time that the netrunner uses to her advantage: odd-time.

Unrolling her SmartKeyboard from her bracer, Bloosom links into her agent and immediately ties her deck into the WiFi. Information presents itself using an algorithm designed by a company called NoSpi Media that splits content into public and private information displays. The neural link allows Blossom to immediately direct the search results either to her agent's screen, or to display in the optic splice for her eyes only.

Administration:
Principal: Ms. Casey Falicia White (C.F. White, Major Shareholder) - She's apparently a private person. No social media, a few press releases on the school mention her, but there's very little about her in particular. She could have paid to be kept out of the spotlight, or she could just not have much to do with publicity.

Counciler: Mrs. Ria Delahoz - Ria has a number of social media sites and is quite prolific when it comes to posting about her family. She comes across as a great mother and wife with two children who are both enrolled at the Bartholomew School. The eldest, Sofia, is 10 and the younger, Abran is 7. Her husband, Emilio, is a computer technician for Birnedito Systems, Inc.

Operations Manager: Mrs. Pallavi Sem - Pallavi is of Indian descent. She's middle-aged, Hindu according to her single social media page, a widow with no children.

Receptionists:
Mrs. Shacora Murray - a black woman with a husband (Jévon) who works as a mortician for the St. Mary's Night City Integrate Hospital, and one college-aged son (Davarius) who attends Night City College majoring in Veterinary Science.

Mrs. Macy Green - an elderly woman with a retired husband (Patrick) who used to work for the city in the foster care system. She has three grown children; Ryan (an exotic dancer at the Polarized club in Undercity), Dennis (a researcher at Fen Pesticides), and Rosie (who is currently incarcerated for burglary).

Teachers:
Math - Mr. Arthur Fraser: Married to Mira (a blogger), father of a 2-year old named Lacey.
English - Ms. Elyse Perry: graduate from Night City College with a Masters in English. Currently unattached with no children.
Science - Mrs. Chanita Graham: Married to Brandon (an architect with Share Architecture). No children.
Art - Ms. Eliana Hodge: Graduate from University of New York with a Masters of Arts. Currently unattached with no children.
Music - Mr. Shovon Dillard: Married to Shacora (a Night City Police Officer, Traffic Division). No children.
Physical Education, Male - Coach Manolo Agosto: married to Chela (aircraft engineer at Night City Municipal), one son who also attends Bartholomew (Romeo, age 10).
Physical Education, Female - Coach Kolina Awana: graduate from University of Hawaii in Physical Ed. with a masters. Currently unattached with no children.

Janitorial Crew:
Lead: Peter Palmer - single, no children. Works for the Stronglang Group that provides corporate cleaning services.
Maximia Scato - Wife of Grumio (a conservationist working for GoodTech). They have two children who attend public school: Modia (age 9, female) and Armenia (age 6, female).
Acura Owens - single, no children.

Security is offered by IntCOP. Unfortunately, the only thing you can pull up on the security company is their homepage which offers generic information typical for any security company. You'll need to be onsite to get more. The school site, however, does indicate that they have a closed campus that requires visitors to either have pre-cleared clearance (such as that provided the student's parents), or an appointment with one of the staff. They routinely search children's dorms for paraphernalia, weapons, and other dangerous items, and there are metal detectors at the entrance of every building.

The school is privately owned, and its registered owner is listed as InTech.

Maps of the campus are provided to parents upon enrolling their students, so you can't access any maps, and the publicity photos of the school put it in a core with a clear geodesic dome that provides some direct sunlight, trees, and a more traditional look to the buildings within the campus that are visible over the wall.

The following searches return...

- "Jase" "Bartholomew School for Advanced Studies" "Missing": Nothing.
- "Bartholomew School for Advanced Studies" "High City" "Schematics": Nothing.
- "Bartholomew School for Advanced Studies" "High City" "News": Various awards for academic achievement, past musical performances, an upcoming art show (three weeks out).
- "Bartholomew School for Advanced Studies" "High City" "Successful Run Against" (this would be done on the equivalent of the Dark Web): Nothing.
- image search on "Jase"'s picture (both normal and dark web): Nothing.
- Social Media sites return many a Jase, but none matching the identity of the child in your dossier.

Echo keeps a close eye on the three other occupants in the car outside of her group. Two of them are male. One is wearing a shabby-looking suit with worn black shoes. He is an older man with gray streaking his hair and a little overweight. He doesn't appear to be a threat. The second is younger—probably in his early twenties—wearing coveralls with a corporate logo for Saillax, a boat maintenance and repair company. He just looks tired and keeps putting his head in his hands. The third is a bright eyed young woman wearing a gray pantsuit and carrying a bright red purse. She's so focused on her agent that she doesn't appear to notice anyone else in the train. Everyone has their life that they'd prefer not be interrupted, Echo notes before turning to her companions.

"So," she elongates the oooo just a little. "How are we planning to handle the checkpoints?"

Posted on 2016-05-02 at 11:17:30.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Those things are all over the place.


Assume you can find one within 20-minutes of wherever you are in the city.

Posted on 2016-04-30 at 13:35:04.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Yes


You could go to a Superstore (like Walmart) and purchase a disposable credchip. It's basically a 10% pricetag, minimum $10 chip.

Thanks for pointing out the request on the recruiting thread. I've offered the character of Echo. We'll see what happens.

Posted on 2016-04-28 at 22:00:37.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Answer


Hello Ayrn!

I hope you're feeling better.

If it shows a "no cash" statement, there are no other options than a credchip or SINcard. If it doesn't state "no cash" then there are machines that accept cash installments.

I believe that Fixer is the only one with a credchip or SINcard.

Posted on 2016-04-28 at 14:35:51.
Edited on 2016-04-28 at 14:36:21 by Bromern Sal

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Thursday morning check in


I'm leaving the conversation about how you are all going to manage the transportation issue up to you. Vesper brings up a good point.

Vesper, check your PM for a response to your request for a skill check. Just an FYI, anytime any of you wish to make a skill check, feel free to use the Inn's Dice Roller tool. You can submit your results via email directly to me just by plugging my email address ([email protected]) into the right field so I get the result. If you don't know how to read the character sheet, just roll 1d10 and I'll do the rest of the math based on the roll. Otherwise, you can add the modifier directly into the die roll for the end result.

For clarification purposes, as I understand things right now the party is considering Vegas, Casino, and Fixer heading to the Rat Pack while Blossom, Bloodbank, Ghlahn, and Echo will attempt to get Blossom into position within the school to perform some wardriving.

If this is the case, the last things you folks need to determine is how to handle transportation and you can step back out into the fishy rain.

Posted on 2016-04-28 at 10:49:06.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Flu sucks!


Ayrn, take what time you need. I've my standard Monday post where I'm likely to move the party forward, and depending on random encounters, you may not even make it to the school if that's the way you do decide to go (by the end of my Monday post I mean! Sheesh! Why so paranoid?). I've also made note of your search requests and will write them into the timeline as you progress, or send you a PM with answers and a timeline of when you receive them for you to post IC.

Posted on 2016-04-26 at 19:14:03.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Ayrn...


Sorry about popping in a little comment at the end there from Blossom, but I felt it important to put a pause in at that moment and allow the team to decide their course of action with the new information. Feel free to change it, or if Blossom wouldn't have shared the information Echo is looking over her shoulder and might out of frustrated fluster.

Also, concerning your additional searches. I have those saved as something upcoming, but for the time being that's all you've been able to accomplish.

The time to make a decision is nigh, chombattas. Are you going with Blossom to attempt a run against the security of Bartholomew School, or are you going with Casino and Vegas to hopefully gather information at the Rat Pack?

Remember, I post Monday morning no matter what—sooner if needs be.

Posted on 2016-04-26 at 11:28:00.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A Night City Adventure
Subject: A little something to wet the appetite.


Night City Integrate | Undercity | OceanZone - Day 1 (Friday), 11:59 PM PST
Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph 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)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ripdoc pushed himself off of the wall he was leaning on. "Rat Pack Nightclub is fine by me," he began, addressing Vegas with a slight shrug. "Although, choomba, while I can certainly understand that there isn't a whole lot of trust to go around currently, it might be a good start to building some if you and your large friend decided to include us all in secret speculations." Bloodbank kept his tone friendly, holding his arms out a little wide in a small gesture indicating the entire group. "We're all a team, after all!"

Vegas responded to Bloodbank with a courteous tip of his striped fedora, "Well now Choomba... I will gladly fill you all in on our secret speculations, if it is necessary, and when it is necessary. But now; it is not necessary!"

Ghlahn smirked at the complete lack of trust going on. "Look, I'm perfectly fine not being friends, but maybe we could all be included in your little Chatty Cathy circles, yeah?" The sniper slung his rifle over his shoulder and leaned against the wall as smugly as humanly possible.

"Like I said Snipe," Vegas responded to the self-satisfied sniper, "You will be included in my Chatty Cathy circle with Casino if it is necessary, when it is necessary. But right now, it is not necessary!"

"Well friend," Fixer inserted himself into the conversation to continue the bantering he and the clean-cut blonde solo had started. "If I may call you that, Mr. Casino, I have been brought up that each person provides for their own way. I will not ask you to pay for my tools or ammo. If you are worried about me ditchin' out on the run, then I most likely wouldn't even be here. A runner with a bad name ain't gonna get a next job."

At first Casino did not reply giving Mathis a long, hard look and taking in his weapons and clothing, then he finally spoke. "No, you may not. And the name's Casino, not mister, not sir, just Casino. As for ‘ditching' on us during the run, well I guess we'll see. I'll run with anyone if the money's good but I only trust one of the people in this room, I'm kinda paranoid like that."

Looking over the rest of the people in the room and their faces, Casino added, "I'm sure we all feel the same. This run's not about friendship, it's about money. We don't need to be friends to get this boy back, but we do need to work as a team. Teammates help other team members as needed and I'll do my best to do that. As for mine and Vegas' 'secret' chat... it was about our finances for the taser and my grens. That's it." He threw a hard look Ghlahn's way and finished with, "As for 'non-combat' roles, choomba, there is no such thing in this bizz, everyone fights as needed."

Vegas smiled at the reply of his partner in regards to the necessity of friendship and money before adding his two cents worth. "Casino summed up our Chatty Cathy secret speculations," stated the suited solo matter-of-factly, "It was necessary for the two of us to privately discuss the matter of pooling our finances and why. Which was necessary for the two of us—seeing as we have worked together for a number of years—but not necessary for the rest of you to listen in on our private financial speculations!"

Vegas slowly pulled his handgun from the restraints of his shoulder holster and methodically checked each chamber before returning it back to the shoulder holster. Then the Frank Sinatra look-alike nodded to his partner Casino, while he waited for any further responses from the gathered group of Edgerunners indicating he was ready to go.

Apparently still uneasy with the plan, Bloodbank piped up, "I have to admit, though, making a stop by Bartholomew's does not sit too well with me. While I can't think of a reasonable alternative yet, I believe that any one of us approaching this school would raise all sorts of alarms that would defeat the purpose of 'running quiet'; especially if our kidnappers have someone to keep an eye on the school or someone on the inside. Besides that, I don't believe any reputable school would share any information with a complete stranger about one of their students. On top of that, tomorrow is Saturday, and I highly doubt there would be anyone there to talk to."

With a small, apologetic grimace, Bloodbank turned his head to Blossom. "What exactly did you have in mind regarding the school?"

Blossom looked up from her agent with an expression that was cute in its fake dismay. "Echo, what did we land ourselves in here?" she sighed. Looking at Vegas she purrs, "Sure you can't just call your contact and save us all the trip, Blue Eyes? I like dancing as much as any girl, but this job's going to require me to get on Bartholomew campus if I hope to crack Jase's school record and maybe see if they got some video of this kid just 'disappearing'. The night's young and I'd rather hit the campus when the kiddos aren't in school.

"Maybe we can do both though? I mean, Vegas, you and your friend here could hit the club and connect with your contact, while the rest of us hit Bartholomew?"

"Well now Blossom," the suited solo smiled and tipped his fedora to her, "All dancing aside, calling my contact is entirely out of the question. It's necessary to speak in person. Plus, there is the matter of collecting the taser and grenades from Starlight. So, it is necessary for Casino and myself to go to the Rat Pack Nightclub right away.

"What you propose is reasonable enough. Me and Casino hitting the club while the rest of you hit Bartholomew, but I am 'playing a hunch'. So, it is necessary for the two of us to go to the Rat Pack Nightclub as soon as possible. I would rather the rest of you join us, but as long as our rail fare is paid in advance to get Casino and me to the Rat Pack—plus to a suitable rendezvous point—then you are all free to do what you think is necessary. Because what is necessary, is to find Jase as soon as possible!"

Having offered up her suggestion and shared with the boys her need to be on site, Blossom busied herself with some initial searches of the Data Pool. She knew she'd need to get on Bartholomew's physical campus in order to get some reliable information by wardriving, but this might be a start, and the boys seemed to just be getting warmed up.

"Bartholomew School for Advanced Studies, homepage, search" Blossom softly spoke the command to her agent. The screen flared to life with a three dimensional Anime girl wearing a school girl's outfit and long, pink hair done up in two pigtails offering the netrunner a salute and a wink before spinning around and vanishing in a series of twinkling cartoon stars. The agent was off to the races, and almost immediately returned a list of prospective links.

Echo feels as though her stomach was about to give up the Kibble dinner she'd eaten a few hours before. The feeling has been prominent since she decided to accept the gig Starlight had offered. New people have never been her forte, and here she is surrounded by a whole bunch of new people and they are getting along about as well as Bronson and Pele back at the Roller City. Those two set her on edge—made her want to vomit, and then shoot them. But she isn't about to insert herself into the fray. She'd heard a RIP merchant once say, When the sharks are frenzied, you don't go swimming. This group looks pretty much like frenzied sharks to her, though in all honesty she has yet to witness a real shark. Just those from the vid lessons. Looking surreptitiously down at the very friendly woman's agent next to her, Echo wonders briefly about her.

Very friendly—too friendly?—What does she want? Could she be as congenial as she came across? Is this just two women banding together in the face of so much testosterone, or could there really be something to her immediate camaraderie? Even thinking about the potential of making a new friend both immensely worried the nomad and excited her. She can't allow herself to be distracted by that possibility though. There is too much at stake.

What would Luke be doing right now? she thought while chewing slightly on her bottom lip. He'd be trying to figure these people out. Know which ones are stable, and which ones are likely to get us killed. That satisfied her, and she immediately set about her assessment.

The medtech's a decent-looking guy—no! That's not the right way to go about this. She sighs and tries to calm the anxiety growing inside of her. He's been calm and non-combative. Even level-headed. That's better. She felt the worry starting to subside as she refocused on the points that mattered. Probably a capable ripdoc who's seen some gushers. And he doesn't seem to be playing favorites, which is good when it comes to a combat medic.

Turning her dulcet eyes on the pair seemingly leading the band she continued her analysis. Casino is itching for a fight. Kinda reminds me of Brutus only a little more refined. He might be a little trigger happy, and if he is that means that we could be in trouble. Frak! We're going in to rescue a kid from being kidnapped and he wants grenades? Echo shudders a little at the thought of the mayhem that could potentially be left when this fellow's trail dust settles. Vegas, I don't like how close to the vest he's playing. Why not be open with everyone? We all know we're strapped. There's no way they were just talking about private finances. He reminds me of the guys my dad would have over when I wasn't allowed out of my room. She resolves that he is untrustworthy, and that means she can't trust Casino either. The two of them being as thick as thieves.

Snipe, Vegas calls him. her icy blue eyes narrow a bit as she looks him in the face and then shyly drops her gaze to the battered and mold-spotted wood wall next to him. He's not a team player. No way. Not with that attitude. I hope we find a way to keep him at a distance like he wants.

Then there was the guy that wants to be called Fixer. He's kinda like Bloodbank in a way, she surmised. Collected if a bit withdrawn. Perhaps that's a good thing. He mentioned tools, so he's likely a techie. Luke was always friendly with the techies. Said they'd make great allies. Techies and medtechs—he called them Fountains of Youth. I'll try and at least keep those two friendly.


Blossom mentally activated the first link and the Bartholomew School's public data site is dragged onto the screen by the Anime schoolgirl with bouncy, pink pigtails.


The Bartholomew School, est. 1996

Publicly Held Corporation, majority shareholder C.F. White.

The Bartholomew School prides itself on the proper education of the youthful mind, preparing our students for a prosperous and socially-minded future. As a private school we have long held the honor of hosting brilliant minds such as Payton Ramsey, Michael Knighton Esq., Sherry Abbey, and Deveraux Pontiff to name a few. Every one of our students are assured a contributing position within prominent corporations that range from technology giants to financial megaliths. Whether your child boards with us at one of our safe dormitories, or you enroll them as a day student, your child receives the solid education provided by small classroom sizes, state-of-the-art instruction methods, and actual education within all of the core subjects, not chipware. Your child's safety and education are in good hands at the Bartholomew School.

Security Provided By: IntCOP
There's more to the site including a very basic map of the campus, teachers bios, subjects that are taught, an application form, and contact information for the administration. The principal is listed as one Ms. Casey White, PhD.

"Frak!" Blossom whispers and looks up sharply from her agent's screen. "We may have a problem, my little go-boys. Looks like students reside on campus."

Posted on 2016-04-25 at 10:10:25.
Edited on 2016-04-25 at 10:11:12 by Bromern Sal

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: ...


1) My understanding is that Blossom can do some "library searching" and info gathering through the data pool while they are moving, yes?

A. Yes. Though what information is available publicly will be managed by the school's (and the Corporation behind the school's) PR firm. Imagine the Internet now, and the trustworthiness of the information available and amplify the conspiracy trash. Welcome to the Net. That's why wardriving became a necessity.

2) My understanding is if Blossom would like to hack into the school's student records or video tape feed, she would need to actually get onto the school campus and either hack in through a hard point or through the school wifi network, yes?

A. Yup. Wardriving requires you to access a data hard point. You have to be onsite and in danger.

3) How do you feel about the group splitting up? I was thinking maybe Vegas could go to the Rat Pack and meet his contact with a couple people, and the rest heads out to the school to help break in and cover Blossom as she hacks into the system?

A. While I hate it when the group splits up in a tabletop environ, it is just fine in a post to play scenario. When I play and such a decision is made to split up, I won't read the other party's posts to avoid metagaming.

Posted on 2016-04-24 at 19:00:17.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: I will...


I'll be posting again Monday morning, so get your piece in before then.

Posted on 2016-04-20 at 22:34:26.

Topic: Eol goes around the sun...
Subject: *grabs the newly released facelick gun*


*Shoots Eol in the face with the facelick gun.*

Happy birthday!!!

Posted on 2016-04-20 at 17:06:52.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Is all good.


Just wanted to make certain that the message was understood between players.

Posted on 2016-04-19 at 16:20:58.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Clarification...


Tann, it's cool if Casino misunderstands Fixer's offer, but I wanted to make sure you, as the player, understood that the offer wasn't to be paid extra to get the team on public transportation. The offer was to use his credchip to pay for everyones' tickets. He just wants to be reimbursed for the expense. More like everyone pays their own way, he just has the means to make the purchase happen since cash isn't accepted.

Posted on 2016-04-18 at 17:59:31.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A Night City Adventure
Subject: Chain of Command Established... Now for a Plan of Action.


Night City Integrate | Undercity | OceanZone - Day 1 (Friday), 11:56 PM PST
Weather Conditions: High City (Thunderstorms, 15mph 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)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Cowgirl got a name?" The suited solo casually asked.

"Well, ain't that snaaks," Starlight impulsively grinned as she used the Afrikaans word for funny. Dropping back into her chair once again she ignored the protesting squeak of the metal legs as they scooted slightly on the nu-concrete floor and shook her head slightly. "I do this all the time. You chombattas don't know each other from Adam, and here I go off expecting you all to just be chummy.

"Let's play the Get-t'-Know-You game so we can get on with business."

"My Handle is Vegas. This here's Casino."

"Handle's Bloodbank," Bloodbank said with a small smile. "I'm here to ensure that none of you die too quickly. I'd certainly appreciate it, though, if you made my job easy and just refrained from getting shot."

"Sounds good to me." Blossom says, acknowledging Bloodbank's request. She unwraps a lollipop and proceeds to suck on the candy, as she eyes the men around the room. "You go-boys look like you know how to handle your heat, though, so hopefully this will be easy cake for us."

Taking the sucker out of her mouth for a moment, she introduces herself simple, "Blossom."

"You've a couple of other edgerunners who are running a bit late, but will be joining you shortly," Starlight informed everyone when the introductions were through. "As a matter-of-fact, one of them just arrived.

"Team," Starlight intoned with a slight derisive tone. "Meet Mathis."

James doesn't miss the tone in Starlight's voice. He pulls down his mask and speaks, "Better late than never, darling. You're the one that messaged me. Was a bit too far out to make it on your timeline. Now, my name's Mathis but the handle's Fixer. I'd prefer to keep my name off the streets if that ain't gonna be a problem."

"Cheeky bakuto, aren't you," it wasn't a question. More of a statement that the fixer made as she acknowledged his comment with a slight narrowing of her eyes. Bloodbank nodded a greeting to the man, still with a small smile on his lips.

Starlight rubs her left eye with her knuckles and raises her pierced eyebrows. "Like I said, you've one other latecomer pending. Her name is Echo. Just got a message from her that says she'll be here any minute.

"Echo will round out your team."

"About time we hit the Street and Make Bank." Vegas acknowledged. "But first, what say we get acquainted with our specific talents of expertise and figure out a plan of action?" Vegas directed his question to the Fixer, adding, "Any special reason why you chose us for this package delivery? Did you message anyone else... or are we the only Edgers you got a response from to deliver the package?"

"I sent the invite to a few, but you all were the first to respond. After I filled the openings, I closed down the invitation. My agent is responding to each inquiry right now with a sweet little message letting other edgerunners who are interested know that the gig is off the market."

"If getting this kid back is so important," Casino piped up in his deep resonating voice. "Do you have any extra gear we could use to help in completing this run successfully? Med gear, extra ammo, some grenades for my launcher? After all Miss Starlight it's better to have something and don't need it then don't have it and need it."

"Well, Mr. Casino," Starlight answered back while affecting a Southern drawl. "You got the dough, I can get you what you need. But ain't nothing free sweetheart."

Vegas turns to Blossom and asks, "You got a special place where you can tap into to locate the information we need for the package delivery?" Vegas pats the pistol secured in his shoulder holster and tips his fedora to Blossom with a smile and adds, "The rest of us can set up shop where you think is best... where we can cover you... to make sure no one disturbs your research... so to speak." Turning to the others he adds, "That is... unless any of you have a better idea... or plan of action... for securing the delivery of the package?"

"Nah, friend. We do this on the fly, man. I'm thinking paying a visit to Bartholomew might be a first stop of us. By the time we get there, I'll have sifted the Pool and we'll see what floats to the top. Make a plan along the way." Blossom gave Vegas a wide smile as she continued, "Once we get to the school, depending on how we flow, I might need you to play with your pearly piece." She gives him a wink.

The door swings open once again and the Gray Samurai steps aside long enough to allow a pale little woman to slip through the door.
"Well," Starlight quips. "It's about time. This is the last of your team—This is Echo."

Again, Bloodbank nodded his greeting. Blossom actually gets up and goes in to give Echo a hug. As Blossom rushes towards the newcomer, Echo's left hand drops to the knife on her thigh and she instinctively tenses up.

"Yay!" the bubbly wardriver squeals, ignoring the obvious unease with which the young thing received her affection. "Glad you could make it, sweetie! You had me thinking I was going to be running with these go-boys solo." Looking around the room with her arm still draped around Echo's shoulder, she made introduction. "Echo, meet the fellas. You got the high-rollers over there, Vegas and Casino. Hard to miss them. Ripdoc Bloodbank here to help keep your heart fluttering. Fixer is over there, he just made it here too, so don't you worry a bit. And then there's this guy, " Nodding at Ghlahn. "I don't know his name yet. You haven't even said your name yet." Looking back at Echo, "He hasn't been introduced yet. See, you're right on time. We're just getting started. Hi, Echo! I'm Blossom! Glad you're coming along for the ride."

"Um," Echo hunches her shoulders underneath the overly warm reception and gives a weak smile. "Sorry I'm late, everyone. I'm used to riding solo, and still getting used to hopping public routes."

"Well Miss Starlight," Casino accepts Echo's apology by continuing with the business at hand. "This is sure a pretty big crew for an easy run."

"Saint Nick wants to make sure Jace is returned sooner rather than later," the fixer responds with ease. "She left the how of it to me, and I figured that the more professionals working together as a team, the more likely a successful run. If you don't like the numbers, or you're feeling a little squeamish about the validity of the gig, you're welcome to skip on out."

"Well," Casino continued indicating his acceptance of the terms. "We're hoping for some type of taser in case the boy gives us a hard time and three more grenades for my launcher as I see out of the seven of us I'm the only one packing artillery. Vegas is sending you the list now."

As Casino finishes, the fedora wearing solo pressed "SEND" on his agent and the fixer stopped spinning her's long enough to view the screen. "High explosive, frag, and smoke?" She looked up at the big man from underneath her groomed eyebrows. "You forgetting the whole concept of running silent, choomba?"

"Better to have them and not need them, than need the damn things and not have them," came the gruff response.

"It's your coin," Starlight slipped the agent back inside her jacket. "The grenades will likely take me a couple of hours to conjure up. They're a little black. The taser'll be a piece of cake and will cost one hundred ten Night City Dollars. I'll give you a deal on the grenades—against my better judgment. One fifty for the high explosive, seventy-five for the frag, and forty-five for the smoke. You're looking at a total of three hundred and eighty paid in advance."

Vegas tipped his hat to Starlight, smiling and good-naturedly beginning the haggle for a better price, "I appreciate the solid, Starlight. I'm sure you'll agree that the benefits of having a non-lethal on hand far outweigh the noise we may end up having to make if things go south. What say you to cutting us some slack on the sticker price?"

"I've read all of your dosiers," the small pinpoints of light at the ends of her pixie cut swayed slightly—hypnotically—about Starlight's head in a demonstration of how she claimed her handle as she shook her head a tiny bit. "You all are capable of making a silent run, and Jace has been kidnapped. What makes you think he won't want to come with you when the mangy lot of you ride in on your white horses?"

"You never know in these situations," Vegas calmly shrugged his broad shoulders. "The kid might be suffering from some post traumatic stress, he might think we're the monsters under the bed. Either way, we can do more good with more dough in our pockets than otherwise."

"No doubt," a soft and friendly smile settled on the pretty woman's blue-painted lips. "But I've got a price tag that is imposed on me by my vendors, and vendor relations is an important part of my business. Sorry, Choomba, but the price is as it is."

"Gotta keep some coin for the public transit," Vegas gives it one last try. "Otherwise... I may have to go 'clubbing' and sing a few songs for the dollars to help locate Jace... or just knock off some Booster Gang on the way."

"Listen Slick," Starlight leans forward and places her hands flat on the table, a sure sign that the negotiation is over. "I'm barely making any dough as it stands—less than the lot of you as a matter-of-fact. So, things are. Savvy?"

Resigned, Vegas hands Starlight some Night City Dollars to help make up the difference with the acquisition request, allowing for his buddy Casino to have 25 Night City Dollars of his own for transit costs. "Okay Starlight. Just give me the Taser when you get back and hand the Grenades to Casino. We will wait here and prepare."

Vegas turns to the rest of the professionals to addresses their current situation.

"I realize that waiting another couple of hours for the grenades for Casino may seem like a waste of time... especially with the unknown fate of Jace hanging in the balance. But I have been down this road before where Casino did not have any grenades and it nearly cost us our lives—pinned down like rats in a corner with no escape... but we were fortunate enough to have two Booster Gangs burst upon the scene with guns blazing trying to scrag each other eliminating the Gang that got caught in their cross hairs that had us pinned down with no means of escape."

"Well Vegas," Casino drops in on the end of the explanation. "I don't think we need to take it that far. I'm sure Miss Starlight can deliver the grenades and the taser to wherever we hold up to plan this run as long as we give her notice. I don‘t see us having everything we need, from info on where he's being held, the people holding him, and to the security there before she can get them to us." the large solo bends and adds his cash to Vegas' stack then nods respectfully to Starlight.

"All right, partner," Vegas stuffs his hands in his pants pockets and rocks back on his heels. "Might be best if we all get some rest then while Blossom could access her gadgets from here and find out what she can about Jace.

"All of us going up to High City to that Bartholomew School might raise some red flags regarding security issues... especially with all the firepower we are carrying.

"Now that you're all here and getting along," Starlight injects. "I'll be taking my leave. The night is young, and there's work to be done. You've my contact info if you need to reach me, chombattas. Upload your status on the hour, every hour, and keep me informed so that I can keep Saint Nick in the loop. Au revoir, my pretties."

Bloodbank nods his farewell with another small smile, and the fixer receives various additional forms of farewell as she exits the room.

"Blossom," Casino turns his gaze to the petite netrunner who is still cuddled up to the very uncomfortable looking Echo. "Go ahead and tell us how you want to shake this out. You said something about going to the Bartholomew School for some interviews and answers, but it may not be wise for all of us to go there especially with the security issues in High City.

"Keep in mind, that just because Jace disappeared from High City does not mean that he is hidden there. Chances are somebody has him in Midcity... or here in Undercity somewhere.

"We need to agree upon a plan of action! Plus we may need to pool our Night City Dollars to cover the Transit Fees for everyone... unless Blossom can manipulate her gadgets to put some Transit Tokens into our accounts? Your Call Blossom. Unless There Are Better Ideas."

Ghlahn waits for the door to close before interrupting, "Alright, let's establish a chain of command, some combat roles, and some non-combat roles. I'll take second in command, overwatch, and 'stand by and looking ravishing' respectively, as I'm a good leader but not quite that good, a damn hot sniper, and a damn hot sniper." His smirk widens slightly and he waits for responses. While he does so, he loads his sniper rifle and chambers a round without looking at it.

Blossom rolls her eyes as Ghlahn starts loading gun and talking about establishing chains of command. "Slick." Turning back to Echo, "See, Echo?! This is why I'm glad you're here to run this with me!" This elicits a modicum of blood rushing to the otherwise very tanned face of the leather-clad young woman, but nothing more.

Addressing Ghlahn again, Blossom says lightly, "Silly joy-boy. Everyone knows girls rule the world.

"Seriously though, you want to play second-to-one, that's fine with me. I'm running the Net for this gig, feeding your brains with as much info as you can handle and looking to get us clearance when we need it. Unless you chombattas got a better plan, I say we follow Starlight's lead and make bank. Jace ain't likely to walk in the door, so I say we start with the school and see if we can pick up this little bunny's trail. That pass for you, boys?"

"You two may take a page out of this un's book," James said to Glahn and Blossom while referring to Vegas. "Mr. Glahn, this ain't no open road. May not get those open shots you're used to past three hundred meters. And dunno how well that old tech's going to carry you here in Night City. Close quarters, this little Uzi here, chambered in a .45, can do a bit of damage within fifty meters." James says that last bit while patting his hidden submachine gun with the suppressor poking a bit past the lower edge of his jacket. "If we wanting to be taking public transit. I've got the credchip account that can get us on it. You pay me in your cash dollars and I will use my credchip to get you on."

James was just here for a job, he would keep this muscleheads gear going and even get the crew past the odd lock if need be. "I will let you soldier boys figure out your plan on all this. I'm just here to make sure the gear keeps going ‘til the job is done."

"I don't much care who's leading this run," Bloodbank pipes up with a friendly tone. "Just so long as we're not hurting innocents, and the lot of you make this as easy for me as possible. That means, don't get dead, and keep the team blood flow to a minimum."

"I suppose deciding on a proper chain-of-command is a good place to start," Casino acknowledges Glahn's input with a good-natured half-smile and dulcet tones. "Anyone got a problem with our sniper friend, here, taking second seat?" Only the sound of the machinery outside of the smelly, dimly light office answers the question. "That's decided then."

Posted on 2016-04-18 at 10:05:56.

Topic: Flesh & Blood - A CyberPunk Game
Subject: Ah... Teamwork.


Overcoming challenges is the name of the game!

For those of you who haven't posted in response to last week's character engagement; the time has come to endure "Die Controlled Characters!" Dun, dun, dun...

What will the results be?

Results are in. I didn't move things forward too far. Way I see it, you folks need to determine a plan of action now that you've got a chain of command established.

Keep in mind that if you're planning on heading up to Uppercity, you'll either need to stow your illegal weapons, or find ways to bypass security checkpoints. While it is difficult to bypass security, it isn't impossible. The news stories every day are a testament to that fact.

Also, keep in mind that it is Friday night, coming up on very early Saturday morning.

Great character development thus far, gang! You'll see that I brought together all of the interactions in the most logical manner I could. I had to change some dialogue a bit, but I tried to stay true to your characters.

Hammer, I inserted a couple of lines for Casino just to move things forward. If you think he'd say things differently, or wouldn't respond that way, feel free to let me know.

I look forward to this week's continuation!

Posted on 2016-04-18 at 08:51:11.
Edited on 2016-04-18 at 10:11:41 by Bromern Sal

 


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