Streets? Nah.
"Nearest flophouse?"
With a little effort it didn't take long to reconvene. Getting back would take a little time, of course. It would be something of a walk, or perhaps the HabTrans system could be used to get back to your purchased vehicle.
Then, you needed to decide what to do...
"Information on the script would be proscribed. Anyone who knows about it would be wary of discussing it with strangers. The drugs might be easier to follow up on but it's not exactly my area of expertise."
Let's lay low, compare the crime scene images.
It was a pretty simple task to compare the two, and match enough of the room geometry, parts of the circle that weren't quite regular, and the like. Either someone has gone to inordinate lengths to make them appear the same, down to moving grains of highly toxic combat drug into the right place, or it's the same location.
Afan makes his way back to the hotel, assessing the location while waiting for the others to arrive.
The scene seems right. Or an elaborate and accurate staging.
Is the stim-dust illegal or a controlled substance, if the latter outlets might be limited. Easy to track down and work from there.
Asking the right questions. Good.
"Good call. What do we know?"
"Those chemicals are hard to find, especially in those quantities and purity. I'll bet there's only a few places on the planet that they can be sourced"
Combat stimms vary in legality, with some of the more terrifying ones being illegal among the guard and others being dubiously legal for public groups. While some part of this cocktail is probably legal, the bulk of it seems to be utterly outside normal means. It would need to be bought on the black market, or a Guard, Mercenary or PDF unit that's skirting the rules.
Liberated evidence?
It was certainly possible this had been seized and since taken from the law enforcement. You would need to gain access to the Arbites or local enforcers records to find out for sure, but gaining access to those records would also allow crime scene reports to be gathered.
"Breaking into biter barracks is no stroll on the walkway. If we're doing that, we have to pull it off perfectly. Or else be okay with either shooting or trusting biters."
"That wouldn't be easy. Though our only other lead is that some PDF probably brought in the drugs"
"They'll be looking for people mathhing our description for the next while. Local law enforcement may be less vigilant and might still be useful."
"PDF or Enforcers? Yeah those could work. Where are they holed up?"
There are Enforcer precincts of various sizes across the Hive, as there local levels of crime (or the noble desire for Enforcers on hand) increased. It shouldn't take too much effort to find one with a poor repuation that you can gain easier access to.
The PDF also have several barracks across planet. The two located in this Hive are near the top and down just above the Underhive.
"I'd say the PDF first. I imagine there are some recreational facilities nearby some of the barracks, lips might be looser their."
Can't you ask your new rich friends, where to score some high grade recreational pharmaceuticals? Something strong.
Clever.
"That's worth following up. Nobles can pay a lot for their vices of choice."
Afan continues to be posted outside their original hotel and watches for any large response force entering the building.
"These are combat drugs not recreational narcotics, it might lead us on a wild goose chase."
Slip up. Nobles don't openly use combat drugs for recreation. Something to note.
"Enforcers are the softest target. We should try them and see if they know of any PDF on the make."
"We need a reason to get in and look around. As we're posed as a Noble looking to hide some dirt how about we disguise our play as that?
Tell them we're looking for someone and we're willing to pay for discretion"
Maybe, they don't use this specific category of drugs, but a dealer wouldn't be so specific. We need a lead, a dealer we can squeeze for intel... and work out way up the chain.
I'm certain our collective charms can coax the truth and inspire silence. But, maybe there is something to the Enforcer approach.
Jene thinks on procedures that can be exploited to help with the Enforcer angle.
Jene decides that it would be worth searching the local information net for details as to how corruptable the local Enforcers were. They varied greatly depending on the planet, with some being almost Arbite-esque in there dedication to law while others were much more...flexible, especially where Thrones were concerned.
It seemed this planet was variable - indeed, it was likely part of why there was an Arbite presence here, to try and instill fear into the local Enforcers. But there were enough traces to find a small, down-hive office with rumours of poor moral calibre.
It was also clear that nobles, at least local nobles, could issue orders and expect to be obeyed. Off worlders may not have such an easy time, however
"I'm not sure about approaching in our established cover identity as it is. The arbites will be trying to find us and if we attract attention to ourselves at the Enforcers precinct using those identities it will be a relatively easy connection. That said bar someone breaking in I can't currently think of many alternatives."
"Then about how about breaking in? Better chance of us not being seen in these covers."
It would likely be possible, if simply because of the audacity - most people don't try to break in to an enforcer facility.
[b]Ballz to the wall, gentlemen...
We could also stake out the location. The authorities are done, and those traps... did they look like they were set by them or some other party?[/dice]
Difficult to know without an examination of the parts.
"Lets size up the enforcer base and make a decision based on what we see about how to proceed."
Let's go. Jene collects her things.
Action.
Vasyl, as always, is ready to move out.
Pleased that something is finally happening, Callidia rises and accompanies the others.
Lazerus checks if his hellpistol is properly concealed and vox's Afan to meet up with them
Meeting with Afan was a simple matter, and heading down to the Enforcer compound was a simple matter. This one stands alone in the centre of a small square with a number of restaurants and shops away from the building across the road.
The compound is an L shape, the remaining section of the square surrounded by a heavy wall and serving as a vehicle lot. The room contains a pair of landing pads, with a Valkyrie sitting idle on one, and a large comms array. There is a gate into the compound, and several side doors as well, but none seem to be locked or guarded in anyway.
The place does seem reasonably active at this time of day, but if there are any active external cameras they're not obvious.
Lothar considered ways they could make a speedy or discrete exit from this area if things went poorly.
Lothar knew, from experience, that there would be tunnels and passages beneath the building, a Hive being a Hive. They would be discrete at the least.
Vasyl attempts to plot a way in, past the security systems.
"Let me check of any unnatural threats"
Callidia gives the building a cursory once-over. Seeing that her companions are focusing their inspection and efforts on the Enforcer compound, she turns her attention to the buildings surrounding the square to see if there are any watchers or surveillance circuits.
Lazerus only senses the misery of those currently being held and questioned, blocking everything else out.
Callidia notes that most of the businesses nearby don't have external pict recorders either, probably because you don't want to take too much attention to what the Enforcers are doing.
Vasyl was confident that a standard Hive Enforcer security system would be one of the more basic the Adeptus Mechanicus would supply, and not likely updated with fresh codes and prayers on a regular basis. It will likely be limited to the most sensitive areas, rather than entry and exit points.
They should use a fairly standard format to there paperwork, as dictated by the Administratum. It is unlikely you'll need a reason to requistion information, simply enough clout or a high enough rank.
"There's likely tunnels beneath this whole area, could make things much easier for someone slipping in or out. Vasyl you'd have the covert and technical skills to get in. Afan might be able to sneak in too though we'd want to change your look. I could loan my photo contacts, a photon flash and a stun grenade in case the infiltration group is spotted... if we went down that route."
Doable.
"We can make that work. What do you say Afan? Ready to break in?"
"Get you in, watch your back, get out. Simple mission parameters." Afan attempts an approximation of a smile. "I will not let you die."
Professional.
"I like those parameters.", Vasyl replies with a grin.
The first task, of course, was to locate access to the tunnels beneath this level of the Hive. There were plenty of access points, naturally. Most of them were sealed with the Symbol of Mars, however. Finding a way past the purity seals might take time. Or, of course, you could risk invoking the wrath of the Red Priests of the Omnissiah.