TillForPie
First Post
Woodley looks grateful for Faust's intervention and goes quiet unless further interrogated.
What now?
What now?
Woodley looks grateful for Faust's intervention and goes quiet unless further interrogated.
What now?
Faust leans back and listens to the plan.
"You sure you're up to it?"
TillForPie said:While the others are planning for the meet Otter is combing the Matrix for information. Not that her teammates could tell: She doesn't need to use a commlink to work with AR. At the most she might seem somewhat distracted.
First up was clearing the van for any shady silent devices. Otter's talent for hijacking subway trains is useful, sure, but she knows that this is what she's really paid for - Matrix overwatch. All it takes is one slippery bug following a runner home and that's it - lights out, glittergirl. Sometimes she hopes to find something. At least then she can feel secure when whatever's tagged along has been bricked. This time she doesn't find anything and she's got to hope it's because there's nothing to find.
Next she checks on the search she's been running since the crew's exit from the subway terminal. She's reminded just how eager the megacorps are to tear each other apart. There are dozens of organizations that could be responsible for today's run. Woodley could have made a deal with any of the Big Ten or even a fellow Evo subsidiary. Complicating matters is the flood of news about this afternoon's attack just now hitting the Matrix. It's being reported that there were undetonated explosives found in the Pensodyne offices and that all the runners responsible for the job have been apprehended or killed. This is standard corporate propaganda: No need to panic the wageslaves or tip off rivals to weakness. Otter knows that they're not out of the woods yet as far as Pensodyne is concerned. But still - explosives? That's a chooby little tidbit to include. Might even be true. Just what was Lunchmeat up to? There might be answers to find and Otter knows she shouldn't give up yet - but an exhaustive search will take more time than she has at the moment.
GlassEye said:Lum is deeply involved with EmOne and is hardly paying attention to Herald but he is keeping the others apprised with muttered updates via commlink, a stream of EmOne's camera, and an overlay map with some hastily scrawled icons marking the things he's noticed.
"Copter inbound. Looks like it's hovering waiting for someone to show up. I guess that'd be us. Or you, anyway." He raised his eyes briefly to Herald but just as quickly returned to his RCC.
Shayuri said:Death Otter was sitting not far from Woodley, ironically enough, her head lolling over a bit as she rocked slightly to and fro. The Matrix in this 'hood was a bit muted...not too many good repeaters, at least not that lasted long before getting broken open for parts. Some grids were better than others though, and she found one that sufficed for her purposes.
Alerted to the helicopter, she started scanning for nodes that were out of place. The bright nodes of expensive systems sparkling in the sky like Lucy's diamonds.
TillForPie said:For now Otter decides to see what's up with the helicopter. A glance reveals nothing - no Matrix devices at the point in the sky Lum indicated at all. It's all running silent. That's not a problem for her. Technomancers might be known for their resonance but Otter knows that everything in the Matrix has an echo of it. All she has to do is shut out the background noise and listen. A moment later she's found it: A device icon belonging to a Triox Ubermensch, one of the most powerful (and expensive) Rigger Command Consoles available. There's a rigger flying that helicopter and it's possible that everything inside has been slaved to his RCC. With that kind of flash it's likely that there's a dedicated spider on board (if the rigger isn't also a spider himself) and that a snooping attempt will be noticed. Is it worth the risk?
Mosier said:Herald regards the others as if he were a connoisseur finding the wine to be just barely adequate. "Well, here we are," he says unnecessarily, perhaps betraying just a hint of unease at his own plan. "Remember, don't deviate from the plan. The Johnson may even threaten to kill me, but he won't follow through as long as we have her."
With a sudden burning intensity, Herald makes eye contact with Faust. "The Johnson must be certain that you are willing to kill her, Faust. Remember this. If he harms me, don't hesitate." He glances meaningfully at Faust's gun, completely unconcerned about the fact that he's very plainly discussing murder right in front of the potential victim. It doesn't even matter what she thinks about it, because she's powerless to object, especially now that her comlink has been surrendered.
"Otter and Lum will be busy with overwatch. It's up to you, Faust."
Shayuri said:Death Otter burst out into a cackle of laughter, with seemingly no provocation and messages flashed up on everyone's HUD from her.
Inside the message was a snip from an online shopping site showing the Ubermensch control rig along with its price. Appended was the text
>>Sure you don't want to just gank them and take their stuff?
The little cartoon cybernetic otter icon attached to it was batting its lashes in a parody of a 'come hither' look.
>> I can try to wiggle in, but if they're rocking that kind of hardware they're going to have good eyes on the Matrix. Might hack them off if I get my grubby paws all over their nice, expensive control console.
TillForPie said:Lum's underside view of the helicopter is soon dotted with Otter's larcenous suggestion and online shopping links. The chopper isn't outwardly military but if there's that much cha-ching aboard (not to mention a Mr. Johnson) it's likely also carrying a small squad of highly-paid boys in black bristling with miltech. If Otter could somehow disable the helicopter it might be a possible take. But Lum remembers how much trouble the crew had geeking a couple freaks on a subway train - and several of the crew are still injured.
The other problem with Otter's suggestion is obvious to everyone: If word got out that they'd betrayed their Johnson they'd have extreme difficulty finding work in the future. They've been relegated to garbage detail for months now - how willing is the crew to screw up their first real gig?
On the other hand, should they pull it off they'd be sitting on perhaps a few million nuyen worth of military gear... Assuming they didn't trash it all in the attempt.
GlassEye said:Lum snorted at Death Otter's joke about uploading a vid of Herald's death. At least, he hoped it was a joke
GlassEye said:He tore his eyes from scanning the crowd to read Death Otter's message and cursed to himself. How the hell was he supposed to find this 'pig-sticker'?
Lum had EmOne gain a bit of altitude and began visual scans of surrounding buildings, upper-floor windows and roofs, for movement and the appearance of anything carrying heavy weapons. Especially something that might be able to take down a helicopter.
Mosier said:"Safe with my fellow Runners, for now!" Herald shouts. The roaring helicopter is making the social dance quite complicated. "We were ambushed by a crew that knew exactly where we were, and why. Please pardon me for not taking any chances."
Herald tosses Woodley's comlink to the Johnson. "This is hers. We'll send you her coordinates once I am safely away."
Mosier said:Herald is uneasy. This Johnson is clearly not taking the Black Kennedys seriously, and it might just cost Herald his life. But, he can't think of a way to tell her that doesn't come across as threatening, cocky, or paranoid. His discomfort and fear are at odds, until finally, fear wins.
Herald communicates a thought to his fire demon, who still owes him a service. Maybe by creating a scene, Herald can delay the Black Kennedys, or urge the Johnson into more decisive action. Kill the one called Diablito, Herald orders. The spirit is not particularly strong, and will surely be defeated by the gang. But he has to do something.