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Denver, Pueblo Corporate Council
Scene 1
2 April 2062, roughly 2:00 PM
Getting used to life in The City of Shadows hasn’t been an easy process. As if the interplay of factions in the Shadow community weren’t tricky enough, the addition of four different countries and a bloody great dragon have kept you on the edge of your seat. There’s also that matter of adjusting to the thin air up here. It’s made your unplanned transition a little rocky, but things are starting to settle down. You’ve secured a place, and you’ve sent out a few feelers concerning your “line of work.”
This afternoon, it looks like those feelers have started to pay off. A few minutes ago, you received a call from somebody who’s on the fast track to being your best buddy ever. He called about a job. The meeting is at 4:30 at Denim, a nightclub in the PCC sector. There was an offhand mention that the Johnson was looking for “shiny new faces” who might act as neutral parties.
Well, at least getting used to the air here wasn't as bad as I thought...must be the time spent in the mountains in the sandbox
Gunner checked his commlink and brought up a map of the area around the nightclub. He got his gear out and started to get ready for the meet.
Guess I won't be needing my SAW on this recon... He snickered to himself. He selected his trusty Predator V and put it in his holster inside his coat after checking his mag. He then went down to his car and stowed the rest of his gear. He then killed time watching some lame trivid news show about news and business and other lame corp drek. At 3:30 he headed to his car and went to the meet early to check out the area first.
At least I can get me a decent soykaff on the way...
Finally, some work! Might as well get a head start and scope out this club.
Whisper looks around at the mess in her tiny one bedroom apartment.
I hope this pays well, or at least a leads to more jobs... I might not make rent next month...
Scrounging around for her gear. She throws her Ingram Smartgun over her shoulder on a strap so it sits in the small of her back before putting on her lined coat. The next ten or so minutes are spent cursing as she moves bits and pieces here there and everywhere searching for the equipment she wants to take with her. A medkit found under two stacked plates of half eaten soy drek by the sink, several drams of incense pulled from beneath the couch cushions and shoved into a pocket.
Finally she heads out onto the street and straddles her Mirage. Zooming of through the streets of Denver towards the club she arrives a good 45 minutes early. A soy burrito in hand, leaning on a wall across the street and down a little from "Denim", she waits and watches to see who else turns up (and if she can pick the Johnson out of the crowd) before heading in right on time.
Mina locks up the new shop with the shiny new locks and keys, blowing a mental kiss to the doberman that's on guard duty, it's assault rifle primed and well oiled and full of ammo from a hopper. Guard, report, shoot on sight... She orders it, wishing she'd not lost her autosoft collection to that virus as part of what went down that required her to move from Seattle. At least her contacts had moved as well, as part of the same little fracas, so she had some contacts she trusted. The little Ork who pointed her at this new job was new, but came recommended.
Hopping in the SUV, she loads up the visor over her head, blocking out the real world as she dives into the guts of the vehicle, her control rig and remote deck plugged into the SUV. A pair of hovering drones precede and trail along, keeping an eye out before her and behind her as she travels to the site. She arrives and parks at 3PM two blocks away, and keeps the front door under surveilance. Not until 4:20PM does she exit the vehicle, after locking her drones down in the back.
She walks to the club, surrendering her pistol if required by security, and taking the gun check. Her remote deck is carried in hand as a brief case.
Shelby stepped out of the steamer and started dressing, when his sister invited him to move out to Denver and pointed out he could still get an appt through his old Evo contract he had come up with every excuse he could think of to not move.
However his mother had dropped some hints about worrying about his sister and being able to visit them at the same time would be nice. So he had moved. It had taken some time getting use to the city, and work had been scarce for someone new to the city (even with the small orders for talismans and custom spells his sister steered his way) especially someone with his background, so he was grateful when the contact had come through for him.
It took him a bit to get dressed, he wanted to be low key in case it was an immediate job... but he didn't want to not match the club either. After picking up out an understated outfit he shot a message to his sister, "Out for the night."
Taking a breath he decided a little magical defense wouldn't be out of order. Focusing on his amulet he had since childhood he worked through the spell carefully.
Setting it in the back of his mind he walked out and locked the door behind him, here's hoping this goes well.
Amos sat in his father’s bar, musing over the job being offered to him. It was meant to be for people new to Denver, yet Amos didn’t exactly fit. He was born and raised in the city after all, and he knew it quite well. Knew how the fact it was four nations coming together in one place had created a lot of tension, that the shadowrunners needed to have good quality fake SINs and Licences, otherwise they’ll end up in rail fast. However, Amos hadn’t been here for seven years, hence why he was considered a new guy... and he didn’t have any SIN’s or Licences to his name, only his gear.
Hence why he was careful after giving his father a nod of farewell and left. The job was important, he needed the nuyen desperately in order to get a fake SIN and licences. He didn’t have much equipment that actually needed it, but his chameleon suit did stand out quite noticeably. With how important it was for his job, he would rather not go to jail because of it. Luckily, his dad’s bar and the target bar were in the same section of Denver, so there was no boarder crossing, the orc arriving about fifteen minutes before the meeting was to take place.
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The trip into Edgewater was a fairly quiet one. The neighborhood's mostly residential so you drive through a few quiet streets, away from the lights and noise of the casino at Lakeside Amusement Park. Coming to West 26th, you spot the neon sign of Denim and make your way into the parking lot. This early in the day, the parking lot is fairly empty, and the tribal beats that reverberate when you open the door are turned down from eardrum shattering to merely loud.
Inside you see a few wageslaves seated around the bar, trying to relax after the day's grind. The bartender, a tired and worn looking middle aged human woman dressed in traditional Hopi garb, gives you a glare as you walk in.
The bar has synthetic dark wood paneling, and the walls are covered in Hopi artwork and memorabilia. A small stage and dance floor are set off to one side of the bar. Several trids are showing various sportscasts and local news. One of the newscasts is showing live footage from outside a corporate building a large LuCom logo.
Gunner walks to the bar and orders whatever cheap beer-like drink is available. He then tunes his commlink to the newsfeed about LuCom. He turns around and checks out the clientele nonchalantly, and also checking for the security he knows is there and the exits should things go south.
Johnson must already be in there?
Whisper crosses the street and steps into the club. After taking a moment to look around she heads up to the bar. " I'll have what he's having. " she says to the Hopi woman, indicating the elf next to her (Gunner). Looks like a runner...
" You here for the job? I'm Whisper..." she says casually under her breath, flicking the collar up of her blue coat and then flicking her dark hair out to fall over her shoulders.
She looks about trying to spot a back room or such where the Johnson might be. Before settling on the Trid screen
Hey. Name's Gunner. Yeah, I'm here for a job too...money calls. You from the area?
Gunner turns to face the newcomer. She didn't seems threatening, but still, his training said to never turn your back on what you don't know.
You catch any info about this job?
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When asked the bartender hands you your drink and directs you to the back room. She refuses any money for the drink and explains that Mr. Johnson already paid, but pushes a sign gently forward that reads 'tips appreciated'. If asked about Mr. Johnson she will say I was told to direct any 'runner looking types that came in to the back room for a meeting.
The back room is set up like a medicine lodge. The floor is covered in what appear to be authentic skins. Several cushions surround a firepit in the center of the room, where a small brazier currently burns. The atmosphere is aromatic and smoky, but a metal chimney above the brazier seems to be pulling most of the smoke out of the room.
Directly across from the door, behind the brazier, a mean dressed in a grey business suit, but wearing a traditional Hopi mask, emblazoned with a stylized Raven, sits. He silently gestures for the 'runners to enter and take a seat.
He will sit, in complete silence, until everyone has arrived.
Looks like we're getting the VIP treatment. Shall we?
Gunner digs out a ¥5 chip and hands it to the bartender with a smile. He motions to Whisper to lead off.
Ladies first....
A dark, dingy bar. Great, the best place that Shinobi wanted to meet a Johnson. The orc was rather sure that this mission wouldn’t be the best paying job... but a start was a start, so he entered into the bar. At first, Shinobi didn’t order anything, leaning against the wall near the door with arms folded. However, like the others runners, he wasn’t exactly inauspicious, and soon the orc was lead into the backroom. He still didn’t order, even when it was revealed that Johnson was paying for the drinks. Instead, Shinobi just nodded a greeting to the others and took a seat.
Ten minutes before the meeting starts, after setting her spy eye drone to hide under a building easement and record the entrance, Mina heads down to the bar. She steps in, waiting for any alarms to go off over her concealed weapon. When nothing goes off, she proceeds deeper into the bar, giving the bartender a polite nod. Her golden eyes, hidden by a pair of octagonal aviator shades scan the bar, noting the two who don't fit, whom she saw enter earlier. When the bartender motions for them to go into the back room, Mina follows along, taking a seat to one side, where she can see both the 'Johnson' in the mask, and the door they entered by. "Afternoon..." She says in cool tones.
Hey. Name's Gunner. Yeah, I'm here for a job too...money calls. You from the area?
Gunner turns to face the newcomer. She didn't seems threatening, but still, his training said to never turn your back on what you don't know.
You catch any info about this job?
" I'm new in town and no, I didn't get much, just a heads up about the meet. "
Looks like we're getting the VIP treatment. Shall we?
Gunner digs out a ¥5 chip and hands it to the bartender with a smile. He motions to Whisper to lead off.
Ladies first....
Whisper chuckles, slotting the bartender ¥5 as well, she turns towards the back door and walks lithely through the door. She sits down on one of the skins crossing her legs comfortably and waits for the Johnson to start.
It took a few minutes to get the hood right, low, without blocking his sight. Not that it likely mattered, but something was better than nothing. He wasn't quite use to the differences in this town from Chicago and he hoped his lack of preparedness wouldn't bite him too hard... So many borders and extra attention to details was not something he had expected when he had moved out here.
Nine check the time and realized he was moving a bit late. Sighing at himself Nine enters the bar, and stops for a second to adjust the mood of the bar. A rum and his directions in hand he slots the bartender ¥10 before moving to the back as directed.
When he enters the room he nods to the fellow guests and the masked gentleman before finding a seat.
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'ello, I am Mr. Johnson, for the evening at least. Thank you all for coming, the 'run is a short and hopefully easy courier job. You see my dear fellows, I have a small package that needs to be delivered to a friend. The package must be delivered in strict confidence. I have every reason to believe that some people would not like to see this package arrive safely. Because of that, suitable precautions will be taken. The delivery is in the FRFZ but you 'runners will need to cross over into the UCAS which means at least two border jumps. First from Pueblo into the CAS and then from there into UCAS.
The package must arrive no later than 7:00 tonight.
Compensation will be provided half now and half by the recipient. I am offering you a total of 5000 nuyen for this job.
Mina nods. "I see. Is that each, or in total? Also, is this package of personal value or actual value? And finally, is there anything the package should not be exposed to? Open flames? Temperatures beyond a certain range? Water? Magnetic fields? Electrical fields? Note I am not asking what the package is, only enough information to determine that I am not being asked, for example, to carry one pound of Tempo or C12. I don't run drugs or do wetwork, you see. So, don't need to know the specifics, just enough generalities to know I'm not firewood." She smiles. "Plus, I would need to make sure as I'm carrying it nothing happens to it unexpectedly because I don't know it, such as wiping an old style magnetic strip data record taking it through a high-mag security scanner."
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Each.
He holds up a letter sized manila envelope, marked 'CONFIDENTIAL in large read letters. The seal is readily recognizable as one intended to be tamper proof.
It's a letter from the Koshari leadership council. So unless you are a member of the Koshari then it means nothing to you. You will treat this letter with respect.
He blinks at the rant given to him by Overflight, What? You talk to much. It's a courier job, your like the pony express sans the ponies, now do you want the job or not?
Mina smiles. "Yes, I have no issue with the job. We have not worked together before, and I find it better to set ground rules up front, Mr. Johnson. I realize you are used to dealing with a level of runner who is not so professional. I am not that type of runner."
With a shrug Nine spoke up, "How will we recognize the drop off point when we arrive?"
I assume that there a some parties that don't want this message to be delivered? Not that that's a sticking point for me, I just wouldn't mind a heads up for who might be gunning for us. Other than that, we can leave right from here to do this...I am ready to go.
Gunner nods to the hooded man, then accesses a mapping program detailing the route.
" Hold your courier ponies Gunner, " Whisper says, then turns back to the Johnson. " 5K would be fine to move sensitive cargo past suspected opposition or to smuggle it over two borders but it sounds like you need both and in a short time frame... This job is easily worth 7K apiece once you include expenses, like bribes and Fake Ids. "
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6 large, but that's it.
Several organizations, both governmental and private concerns, might object to the contents of the package.
Mr. Johnson will mention that rush hour traffic should start momentarily. Because of that, carrying the package through border security might not be as bad as it would be under “normal” conditions. Alternatively, he will offer to give them names and contact information for two coyotes – “Stalker” who specializes in crossing the Pueblo-CAS border and “Peaches” who handles CAS-UCAS crossings. If they indicate that they intend to use those contacts, he will provide a note addressed to each of them. He’ll explain that the notes should indicate to those people that their expenses for the crossing will be covered by the Koshari.
Takagami shrugs. "It's an envelope. Plenty of places to hide an envelope in an SUV. Unless they are on alert for us specifically." She looks to the others. "Anyone other than me have a ride? If so, we can stop for 5 minutes at the local Office Maximus and make up similar envelopes. The real envelope in one of the vehicles, the rest decoys. Let's go then." She stands up to leave.
6k works for me. I got my ride outside...it ain't an armored SUV, but it works...plus it has a surprise or two....
Why don't we double up, two per vehicle?[b] Nine suggests looking at the other three, [b]that way we have a decoy but we also are not completely separated either in case of attack.
Mina shrugs. "That's fine with me, as long as someone else has another vehicle."
" 6000¥ should be adequate. " Whisper says loading the coyote's contact info onto her Comlink. " Making up decoy envelopes sounds like a good plan. We can finalise our plans back in your SUV. " She says to Overflight.
" Where do we meet with you to collect the rest of our pay once we complete the drop? " she asks turning to the Johnson.
Still a good idea to take two vehicles. Maybe two double on a bike and the rest take the suv?
" 6000¥ should be adequate. " Whisper says loading the coyote's contact info onto her Comlink. " Making up decoy envelopes sounds like a good plan. We can finalise our plans back in your SUV. " She says to Overflight.
" Where do we meet with you to collect the rest of our pay once we complete the drop? " she asks turning to the Johnson.
" I think that's all we need then. " She looks at the other Runners and then holds out her Credstik to take payment from the Johnson.
" So what's the plan for crossing these borders? I could probably hold an illusion over your SUV to make it look like a courior van or something, if that's helpful? What are all your talents? I've gots some Mojo, Mostly Illusions, some healing and a little mind control... I'm also more than competent with a gun... "
"You're overthinking it." Mina says quietly, plugging her remote deck into the dashboard of the truck before jacking into it with a hardwire leading behind her ear. The screen of the truck lights up, and she browses 'Restaurants, Denver, UCAS sector'. Then she pulls up a list, and makes a call as the SUV starts up. "Hello? Yes, do you have an opening tonight, 8PM?" She pauses as the truck begins moving. "Oh, where is one of your vehicles, so I can drop someone off?" She pauses. "Oh, thank you anyway then." She pauses again. "Yes, hello, do you have any openings tonight at 8PM? Five people... yes, yes that will be fine, thank you. Mihoshi Mina. Yes, thank you again." The car begins to leave the garage. "We have a dinner reservation for five at Antiones Italian Bistro, in the UCAS sector. People cross the border all the time. We're just going to dinner, that's all. If we happen to have a few envelopes in our cars, well, that's just something else." She says quietly. "A big magic illusion will stand out like a sore thumb on the astral plane when the mages see it at the border. Some friends going to dinner, frak, that's normal."
Whisper shrugs " Fair, as long as our SINs hold up and no ones searching for this envelope... Seems like a lot of trouble to go to for delivering mail, hiring people like us. "
" Let's swap our Com codes, so we can communicate easily once we're in different vehicles. "
" I've got a bike, so does Gunner, What transport do you two have? " She asks Shinobi and 9 as she gives her contact details out over the matrix.
Actually i have a car....4 seater...i can drive. My main skillset is combat...so...yeah. All i got with me is my pistol...rest of my gear is back at my place. Don't know what kind if trouble we're gonna run into....
"If anyone asks about the envelops I'll just say there are part of a confidential project I'm working on as an independent contractor." Nine suggests with a shrug, "I regularly help in talisman and spell development so having a couple of projects with me at any time isn't odd."
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On your way out of the bar, a man in a stupor stands up, barely able to make it to his feet, the smell of alcohol is rank on him. Stumbling over to Gunner, he shoves a meaty finger into his chest. You think you're so hot, you piece of drek, I've got half a mind to teach you a lesson. He curls up a fist in Gunner's face
Current time: 4:37
As they begin to leave, and Gunner get's some guy in his face, Mina sidesteps the man and continues on. "Catch up when you're done dancing with your friend..." She says calmly as she continues on.
Sorry chum....I like women....go sleep off whatever you've had why don't you? as Gunner walks by the drunk. Gunner instinctively put his hand near his gun and balled his other hand into a fist just in case this drekhead started something.
Hey, just calm down, man. No big deal...just go back to whatever it was you were doing...no blood, no foul, right?
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Hmpf, well buddy you ain't worth my time. He goes and sits down at his chair.
Stopping off to get another envelope is no problem however I want to warn you that it is going to eat another 10 minutes.
The good news is that trying to cross the Pueblo-CAS border during rush hour means that you can expect a more cursory inspection than at a quieter time. The bad news is that this means one extra look at your fake SIN and licenses than you were planning on going through today. It also means getting your working gear through a security scanner. So, decision time – try and go through on your own, or try and Contact Stalker, and put your life in the hands of a coyote you’ve never met.
Six thousand nuyen each... a simple job alright, but with the border crossing involved, it could be an issue. Especially as Shinobi’s skills didn’t exactly go well with this... he was an infiltrator, not a courier. How did he manage to land a job like this? Especially a job like this. Six thousand nuyen was an excellent step towards getting the fake SIN he needed... but it alone wasn’t enough.
When outside, Shinobi listened to the others and their suggestions of what to do. He had to say, he liked Overflight’s suggestion a lot better than Whisper’s. Simple ideas work best, yet splitting up and having a decoy did mean that they did have some protection if they ran into trouble. Still, there was a few issues with it, stuff that Shinobi kept from the Mr Johnson, but was willing to share with his fellow runners.
“I have no wheels, and I don’t have a Fake SIN.” Shinobi said, wondering how the others would react to this... “With the time limit involved, getting one would be a bad idea. If I go along in the SUV, my suit and skills should be able to keep me hidden from inspections. I also have a small request. We keep this run clean and controlled. Not civilian casualties, the least amount of property damage as possible, and preferable not killing anyone who does come against us. I fight completely non-lethal, fists and taser only.”
" No SIN? That could trip us up. All well and good if you can stay hidden but if you get caught we'll all be done for trying to smuggle you over. Maybe we should call this Coyote and see if he can show us a good place to slip across with no inspection? "
" As for your request, I'd prefer to keep this run non lethal too. I don't geek people I'm not paid to. "
What a team to get landed with, they're not taking this Biz seriously...
"Yes on the non-lethal, no on the lack of SIN in my car at a border crossing. How many people, in this city, have no SIN? Fake or real?" Mina asks as they drive toward the border. "Those without a sin, go in one group, use the coyote, as a diversion. Stop and get a fake envelope. The rest of us will make the crossing at the border post in rush hour. That makes anyone after the envelope have to split their forces and we have a 50/50 they pick the wrong group."