Black Rain in the Shadows of Seattle, 2060 (Inactive)

Game Master Tilnar

Jay ducks into the van, folds into a chair in the back and wraps the tails of his long coat over his thighs. He sighs and smiles faintly until their driver speaks. Then he looks at Danny.

"I thought he was your chummer. What's with the 'tude? "

Danny waves his hand in a 'Don't worry about it' gesture, then mutters,

"You don't last long in his line of work unless you can convince people you're a hard-ass. Chummer would be stretching things, too - he'll deal with me, as his dad and mine were cousins, but he really don't like atheists, especially Jewish ones"

The three bikes aren't far from the station - so I suppose grabbing them now would reduce the number of people in the cab, though increase the price per individual. He'll call it a cargo charge.

"I'll grab my bike, ride along," Raptor suggests.

"Yeah, we don't want to leave the bikes behind. I don't mind riding in the Deathwagon here. Seems safer, in a weird way. And you can't blame the driver for taking precautions. He's out here alone. I'd do the same."

"We can put the others in back, but there'll be a charge for them"

Figment says, "Reckon I'll saddle up on my own mount and follow along myself."

Ok, assuming everyone gets their bikes..

You manage to drive off without being shot at or followed -- and hopefully not identified. True to his word, your cabbie drops you off just almost exactly five kilometers from the site, bringing you to the edge of a pocked of what could be called the more 'gentrified' part of the Barrens.

It's about 1:15 am, and the rain's started up again in earnest, adding a dampness to the chill of the night.

If the van isn't a Faraday cage, 0nyx texts Stretch: One problem solved. Any more popping up?

Jay shifts uncomfortably in his chair. "I'm beat. This place, does it have beds, or a floor?"

I am all for a night's rest.

Onyx gets a return text, Depends. Want to take out a rigger and have them lose their air support? Can offer you 500 nuyen, and we can help you move any drones you recover.

Or not.

Figment shrugs, "I reckon the downside of wanting to meeting with Stretch is that we need him to still be alive to do it. Unless you've got magic to fix that?"

"Not really. My magic can fix him being alive. But not the other thing," 0nyx explains. "He's asking if we can take out a rigger providing drone-based air support. Is that doable, or do you want to call it a night, let them stand or fall on their own?"

"Depends what he needs us to do, I guess", says Danny. "Is this real-world, or do we have to jack in, and what's this guy done to deserve us f$*~ing him up?"

"No more than the guys we laid out in the garage, I guess. Question is, do we want to help the Chrome Domes? If so, this is what they need." 0nyx shrugs. "I suppose it's taking out the rigger himself. No telling if he's got spare drones, if we just take out a drone. We get 500 nuyen for it, and the value of recovered drones."

She raises the burner. "I can ask him for details. Just wanted to know if you're interested in making more jack."

”I guess we’re in this far,” Raptor says with a heavy shrug.

Jay raises a weary head.

"Five hundred? We paid that for a cab ride. Maybe we should get a car and start a livery."

Sure. Let's give it a whirl. Oh hey, did anyone at the garage look familiar?

Figment laughs, "Reckon we could, but I ain't got the space or nuyen for a VCR."

"Yeah, I guess so, then, says Danny to 0nyx.

0nyx nods and texts back, "Where and how many, if you know?"

"Got any coordinates on their operational base?" she texts in return.

We know of a few of them... Why, wanted to try to hit them while they're hitting us? Could work, I guess. Was just thinking you'd go after the rigger's perch...

Sure thing. Where is it? ahe returns.

Rigger's Perch...

A small old-style map-grid appears on Onyx's screen -- the location is roughly 2 klicks away from Guardian's safehouse.

Triad Base

A second image appears, indicating a location about 1500 meters (as the crow flies) from the Rigger's perch.

Jay watches 0nyx with interest.

Danny takes some hand-wraps out of a pocket and starts to put them on.

0nyx hands the phone around to the others. "Looks like if we go after the rigger, we need to do it quick and get out, before a team from the base can assemble to save him. I'd rather be gone when they get there."

"Let's do it quick then. How far away is it?"

Figment says, "Reckon there wouldn't be many in the base anyway, if they're trying to end the Skulls. Still, I'm likin' quick. 'Specially if we can work it so nobody sees no furry elfs this time, too."

Raptor nods. ”Smaller base, in all likelihood. Maybe we’ll be able to do this one more quietly. Less… shock and awe. Let’s check it out.”

"Danny, can your friend take us there?"

"Yeah, possibly, but it won't be cheap, and he'll probably be an a+&#+!% about it"

Figment says, "That'd save us some trouble. Not like the Metro's running out here -- and I reckon the attack on the Skulls is probably comin' up real quick now."

"OK, I'll ring him. Anyone got a burner I can use? Better make sure we've got enough creds, too."

Danny dials Lev, and tries to negotiate a ride.

Danny mutes the call and says to the others, "50 each if we're dropped off a block away, 100 if closer. What do we want, chummers?"

"A block away would give us a opportunity to survey the area for escape routes but more of a chance of being intercepted or detected," 0nyx muses aloud. "I'm thinking closer, but I'm not married to it. Anyone else?"

Ever the good man of business, Jay forces a small smile and observes judiciously, "At 100 apiece, we won't be turning a profit, unless drone salvage is lucrative."

My vote is a block away.

"Good point," 0nyx concurs.

Figment shrugs, "Depends how many we get and the shape they're in, I reckon. Still, I got legs and can mosey a block."

Raptor nods. "It's a nice wet night for a walk."

"Just like always."

Danny looks up at the sky, grimaces, then says "OK" He then unmutes the phone and agrees the terms for the ride with Lev.

Lev arrives to pick up the five of you, and your gear, within 10 minutes of Jay's call. The van is the same shape, but this time, it's a dark blue instead of silver-grey. You get into the van, where the interior is the same as before, and Lev simply nods, saying, "You know the spiel. Same as last time."

The trip is uneventful, and yet, there's a strange energy in the air -- and you're not sure whether its your own nerves, or if, somehow, the city itself is holding its breath ahead of the upcoming attack -- certainly, those in the know would be taking a step back to avoid having anything splash on them.

Still, before you get a chance to wax poetic or wise, the van starts to slow and the side door opens, "You're one block away from the address, just that way to the north. There's been a couple of pings of active senors from over there - nothing that the ECM can't handle - but I'm thinking whoever is up there isn't feeling terribly welcoming."

Danny pays Lev, then, once everyone's out and the van's driven off, turns to the others.

"You heard what he said. Might be worth having a scout out first. I can go in person, unless we can do things remotely?

"Lemme bring back Eyes. He can scout or watch our backs, whatever."

Summon Watcher Spirit, Force 3.
Conjuring, TN 3: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 5, 4, 6, 5) = 30
1 hour life span. Drain is (force+hours)L = 4L.
Drain resistance, TN4?: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 2, 1, 5, 6) = 23

The spirit reappears, "What's up, boss?"