Ben, Erryll and Zirelle:
Where DO you go to find some fresh faces?
Ben, Erryll and Zirelle:
Where DO you go to find some fresh faces?
Nicolas pitches the cigarette hard into the waste disposal, then takes the inhaler that purges the remaining side-effects. He sighs. breathing the fresh, unfiltered air of Regina that still feels unnatural to him. He heads into the locker room removing the A.N.K.R. supplied robo-suit that he was working in. He the packs his toolsets into his heavy rolling luggage. He mutters again, "Primitive crap, gotta order something in soon, trip home, maybe it safe now?", last said like he doesn't really believe it. Larry, his work buddy, says, "B*$+!'in about tools again, Nic? Why not go back to Efate,then? Everything's great there, right?" Nic, turns back to his recent acquaintance, smiles and says, "Everything's better there, the air's so bad, you'd choke without filters. We'all drive down main street in battle tanks, shoot at whatever moves. And our tech is so hot, it'll burn your b-" Nic's banter is interrupted by a priority beep of his mobile. Nic waves goodbye to Larry.
Nic reads the text from Zirelle, Probably not too shady if she's using her real name, if it is her real name. Text:"Nic, got a job of sorts, kind of important, like the one Jacob did. Could use some help. Sending co-ordinates for meeting." Nic sighs again, it's been a while since Zirelle has called on him, even though he still sent her his location every time. Nic sends a simple acknowledgement saying he is on the way. Nic finishes his packing, dresses in his turban and other unusual dress, goes to the exit terminal , places his mobile on it and says, "Nicolas Kaya checking out, Power Systems repairs complete, short term contract complete, transmitting final report." Automated reply, "Completion of contract confirmed. Funds transferred to your account. Thanks you for your service, all local codes now deactivated. Exit Transport provided, specify destination location, please." Nic gives the location from Zirelle, and boards the shuttle that will take him to the airdock nearest the neighborhood specified.
On the shuttle, Nic settles back and calls on his excellent memory the codes Zirelle drilled in him. The code 'like the one Jacob did' combined with date and time tells him the meaning, in a way that will evade all but the deepest computer searches for a coded transmission. Even the Imperium doesn't have unlimited resources. Her message translates to everything said in the clear is true, but there is a high likelihood of illegal action, danger, and violence. Nic thinks bitterly, I was wrong, thanks Zirelle, just what I want, a kill or be killed job. Why couldn't it just who has the best cargo to steal or something? Well, I don't want anything to happen to her, so off I go.
Nic, not standing out in a more cosmopolitan area, heads for that location for a meeting...
Zirelle checks her messages and smiles
Ha ha. Got one already. You have anyone on the string, Erryll? Ben? Your Samba partner, maybe?
If not, let's just go down to the job market and pick some fresh-faced kid that can pull a trigger. Nic is taking a shuttle, so he'll be here soon... anyone else we're getting has to be quick. We have to be at that west fence by 0742 to take advantage of this opportunity.
We also need air tanks and suit heaters, all before tomorrow. Let's get hopping.
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"Ah...I miss Samba. I cannot say I know where to find people who would be into this kind of business. We could ask that detective if he knows anyone in town that may be willing to work as muscle for us or who have an invested interest in removing some unsavory sorts." Ben says as he does a little dance to remember the good old days.
Malaxius is sitting in a shuttle dropping into the atmosphere. He had been flipping back and forth through a collection of drafts for the last hours, more or less covering all his scientific endeavors of his career: some of them had been written by himself, others by colleagues - his work strongly leaning on theirs. Now he is hugging the safety belt and enjoying the view.
It seems all so flimsy, if considered as all someone has to show as an achievement at my age - my biggest triumphs had been breaking up some big looming questions into smaller (probably) more well defined questions. It would have been nice to find a meaningfull answer here and there...
He suspected of course that this was'nt just a matter of fate - or bureaucracy for that matter - but supposed to be that way: the answers were probably to be found by someone somewhere "higher up", not by the people doing the actual research. His job had been to collect and sort all the corner- and edge-pieces, then hand them over. And he had become very good at this. But damn was he itching to do some puzzling himself.
As the shuttle was nearing spaceport the open rectangles and moving lights of a construction-site was coming into view. Why didn't I just commit to building stuff or something simple like that - I could just point to a new habblock and say: "I helped built that! Without me, at least 3,75% of this wouldn't be there!"
A few hours later he is sitting in a bar at the spaceport, his jacket over a small assembly of baggage containing the most vital parts of his equipment. He is twirling his beard thoughtfully. Then suddenly he rips out his computer and writes a short message:
Hello Nic, you old scoundrel,
I've just hit the surface! Do you already know where we can meet those people, you have been talking about? Or maybe can I just meet you somewhere first?
Greetings Mal
Nic lands at the shuttleport and brings up on his mobile manually the Lowport storage facility that has his rented short-term secure moderate storage locker holding his weapons that are not allowed on Regina to authorize a delivery. He then uses his favorite luggage transfer service and drops off his luggage, with the tools, to move it securely to the locker, with insurance. Nic thinks, Hate all the red tape on Regina but at least the insurance rates are low. As he finishes that task, a message come in. Nic reads Mal's message, and thinks about it a bit. Mal's not the type to jump into a fire but he's hot on getting support, he might go for this, hmmm, now that I think about it, I wonder if Zirelle needs more bodies;Linc might be around.
Nic texts a follow up to Zirelle, Gotta a friend that wants to meet up, he's looking for support to further his Ancients research, so he wants to meet those Nobles that you know. He's a good egg, and can always use a buck or two so, maybe, if you need more help, he'll do. I'll have him meet up and you can decide. Also I'll send a message to Linc, yeah that Linc, he mustered out so likely available. I'll give him a buzz. No codes this time, just straight up messages, makes it less suspcious to automatic monitors.
Nec texts Mal, Hi Mal, see you still got your grift of trying to unscrew the inscutable, still think you should get an honest, useful job, like art critic :) . I'm on my way now to meet my friend, she's not noble but is tight with a couple of them, a good contact at least. She's got a job for me, might need more help, we'll see if you're interested. I'm going to hit up Linc as well. He's out of the Navy now, hard to believe, civlian life for him? Anyway I'll see if he's available to meet." Nic transmitts the meeting location.
Nic next messages Linc, Hi Linc, if you get this, I'm meeting up with a friend, she's working on something, offered me in on it, not sure but might need more help. If interested let me know. Also Mal's on down, so I invited him as well, nice to see everyone at least. Linc also gets the meeting place.
Zirelle reads her messages.
Ha, nevermind. My fish caught two others. I think we're going to be set. Let's meet up and see what they are missing, and then work on supplies.
Malaxius just wanted to return to nursing his drink, as Nics immediate response surprises him. He grins while reading. Then writes:
art critic? I'm not sure, I'm up to handle the dangers of that life.
Just give me notice, where I can meet you. I'll just find storage for my stuff somewhere and then be on my way there.
Any idea what that job is already?
He empties his glass with one gulp, pays and leaves the bar.
The meeting spot that Zirelle had set up was the back room of a very loud bar, so there was little chance that they would be overheard, plus she had watched the man scan the place for bugs carefully, planting one of her own just to be sure the equipment was in working order and he wasn't hiding his own means of surveillance.
When everyone was together, she said
Okay, let's go over the plan.
First of all, we are going to sneak into a cargo container. We've arranged for a camera malfunction at 0742. The next seven minutes after that, the west fence will be unguarded and unrecorded. That's the time we have to get in, get to the cargo container, and stow away inside, leaving zero evidence of our presence for the crew.
Then we wait. The cargo container will be loaded at 1000 hours, and if all goes well, the shuttle launches at 1500.
The container we will be in, for at least seven hours, is airtight, but the breathable air is very limited, as is the heating, and since we don't know the exact details and the time requirement is longer than a vacc suit's supply, we should prepare additional life support supplies.
On the other end, the cargo container will be unloaded, then we wait for it to be unloaded and left (no inspection), and for the crew to leave, and then we exit and pursue our larger mission. This is just the first hurdle. We'll give you the background on that other part later... right now, just getting to where we need to be is the struggle. You should know though that there is a very bad, very dangerous man on the other end and we mean to kill him. Let me repeat: he is extremely dangerous. I assume those of you who know me will understand that I don't overstate things like that. I have no idea what kind of surveillance he has set up on the other side, but we should be prepared for a fight as soon as we exit the container on the other end, just in case.
I open the table to suggestions about how to accomplish the mission. Note that ethical questions are NOT on the table. You trust me that this mission is worthwhile, or you walk. I won't justify myself further, and I don't have the patience for time-wasting discussions.
Linc, finishing up on a refurbished life support unit for a Vacc Suit, heard a chime through his implant. He put his tools on the rack and dropped the finished unit into the crate at the back of his dilapidated garage.
Turning to the small desk, he read the message from Nic, grinned, and rapidly sent a message back.
Nic, great to hear from you. Yes, I am interested in a paying job. Got the coordinates. I'll see you all in 30. He sent.
Then he got his old flight jacket, locked up, jumped in his old Air Raft and lifted off with an ascending whirr.
Scratching his unshaved chin, Linc considered this Zirelle chick's spiel.
"Well sure, the air's no problem. I can get a couple of 6 hour tanks extra for each person."
He fixed his eyes on Zirelle coldly.
"So couldn't help but notice you want us to maybe get perforated to make a hit on a guy, and you don't mention compensation once. You planning to ditch us useful tools once we've served our purpose?" He sneered.
The deal is a percentage of whatever we get raiding this guy's place. It isn't cash up front or promised. We win or lose as a group. Take it or leave it.
She glanced at Nic as if to say "where did you get this guy?"
At some time during the meeting, Malaxius, a tall man in a sand-colored suit, his hair and long grown whiskers unusually grey for his age, joins after recognising Nicholas and Linc, greets everyone formally and listens intently. During Zirelles description of the job at hand, his fingers start to nervously work the points of his beard.
He's obviously beyond his comfort zone with fighting and assasinations, however ethically justified, but trying desperately not to show it (too much)
After the exchange between Linc and Zirelle, he says in a rather placating tone:
That sounds rather generous to me. But maybe Nic already mentioned: what I'm really after and the reason I could be...motivated to help in this dangerous mission would be to get to know someone with passion for the history of the ancients, matching my own, and the material funds I'm lacking. He once hinted you might know someone like that?
Apart from that: what would be my role during this ... endeavor of yours? Don't get me wrong - I know how to find the trigger of a laspistol, if I have to, but it's not a field I have gathered much experience up to now. As I understand it, you wouldn't need my scientific expertise that much...unless you want me to read the collected works of Prof. Dexton to this enemy of yours - which could make his head explode from boredom, I suppose - mine almost did, I can tell you.
His short laughter at that point betrays a bit of nervousness. Recognising this himself, he quickly adds with a more serious tone:
I'm not bad with computers in general, if that might be usefull...
Nic is several kinds of horrified by Zirelle's verbal assualt with no set-iup. He stands stunned for a few seconds, then urgently says, "Linc, Zirelle, please calm down! Zirelle you never gave me a chance to brief you and I couldn't brief them. As far as they knew this was going to be a legit job, not shady. And this isn't like you, though impulsive, you've always preferred to keep killing as a last resort. This seems everything you are not, hasty, improvised, and complicated with little room for error. You can take two minutes to say why and what's up to bring this about. Not the ethics but how did it get to this. It seems personal, did he kill someone you care about? And what are his resources? Quick, I don't mind but blind I do, especially since you know how I feel about killing, this has you rattled and furious or you would handle it with a lighter touch." Nic stares at Zirelle with a look of shock bordering on panic, with pleading eyes hoping for some rationality. He doesn't even seem to really be listening to Mal at all, given the tension.
Zirelle rolls her eyes.
If you don't trust me, Nic, then not sure why you bothered to come. I'm not rattled *or* furious, but if you are, then feel free to walk. This job is going to take clear heads.
If you all want to waste our limited time talking when we should be planning, okay. We're after this guy because he killed a friend of ours, and he's pure evil, and he runs a big organization that kills people. We don't know his specific resources, but we do know that he is sending assassins after innocent people and thinks no one can touch him. We went through a lot of time and effort to find out where he was and to set up this job, but we need help to fight him exactly *because* we don't know what to expect when we get there. This is a limited chance that we have to get to someone who is normally untouchable. We have this evening to plan, and that is it.
She turns to Malaxius
Nic mentioned nothing of the sort to me. I don't know what kinds of computing equipment he has out there, but that knowledge might come in handy. Primarily though, I need your ability to find the trigger for this job. However, we do have a good contact that might be able to help you out with your scientific endeavors... the woman that we recently saved from the assassins is a prominent professor, and since she was one of the targets, her work might have something to do with why he is killing people. Something to do with alien artifacts I take it. We can put you in touch with her at some point, but no time for that now.
Turning back to the rest of the group she adds
His base is composed of three very large shipping containers lashed together. All external access is hidden. I hope that when we get there we'll be able to exit safely, sneak up on him, and take him out with little or no damage to ourselves... but there is no guarantee of that. We have to go in assuming the worst. I have no way of getting any additional information. We don't have blueprints or a layout of the station. We ARE blind on this one, but if we can pull it off, then we'll have stopped a great force for evil...
She looks at Linc and adds
... and, I assume, someone mind-bogglingly wealthy, and that afterward we can loot his base to our heart's content.
Any other questions before we get back to actually planning the mission?
Linc nodded slowly. He bit into a coffee stick.
"OK, I think I get it. Do these guys wear battle armor, or just civvies? They use e-weapons, or just flying lead?"
Malaxius has a hard time not showing his fear face to face with this obviously dangerous woman. He swallows hard, when Nic suddenly challenges her. But when she mentions her theory about alien artefacts, his nervousness starts to have a noticable determined edge.
You know...I was thinking helping you would be means to an end. But I'm getting a feeling that finding out what's behind this will be a prize on his own...alright, I'm in! What do we do first?
He leans back, feeling childishly elated by his own bravado and steals a carefull glance at Nics face, hoping silently he will join them as well. The undertaking would be just this tiny fraction less scary with him at his side.
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Looking at Linc Ben says, "Probably. I would just assume the worst and then it can only look up."
Nic says, "Fine, if you're going then I'm going, it seems as though I'm going to need to buy one of the dated vacc suits they sell on Regina, I'd had hoped to order in a good one from home. After the meeting I'll see if I can get somthing delivered in time."
After the meeting concludes Nic will order a TL 10 Vacc Suit with extended life support, computer weave 0, eye protection, and Magnetic Grapples. Aside from the ELS, I'd think the rest would be the norm for any real vacc suit, text even implies such for the eye protection and even ELS would be not be uncommon. Cost 11,000 +500 +50? +100 = 11,650 base. This to be delivered to his lowport storage area. Let me know.
After the meeting concludes Nic will order a TL 10 Vacc Suit with extended life support, computer weave 0, eye protection, and Magnetic Grapples. Aside from the ELS, I'd think the rest would be the norm for any real vacc suit, text even implies such for the eye protection and even ELS would be not be uncommon. Cost 11,000 +500 +50? +100 = 11,650 base. This to be delivered to his lowport storage area. Let me know.
Finding this is no problem. Regina is one of the biggest ports in the Spinward Marches and such gear is available on every block in the starport.
Does anyone else want to buy anything before we begin?
Linc shrugged as he chewed on his coffee stick.
"If it doesn't get too cold, we can use the cheap option and get emergency sleep bags; you know, the foil ones that reflect body heat.
"I got a half box of smoke grenades if you think they'll help. Ten of 'em. Other than that, I'm ready to go." He said.
Malaxius quickly glances at his Comm and types...
Then he turns back to the conversation:
I'm having one of those Environment-suits tugged away. It often served me well during field research. But probably won't do much good here. I have no experience with vaccsuits - Any shopping recommendations?
"Also, are we all set for guns then? I've got my trusty Laser Carbine and pistol." Linc asked aloud and turned to the others.
Nic notices the that texting is taking place and is disturbed again. "What your comms are on? I thought this place is fully secured. Any electronics that communicate or record is dangerous. It could be monitored by expert systems. Mine is off."
I don't think I'm playing Nic paranoid, if anything, he's being reckless doing anything with comms. Even today overwhelming surveillance capabilities exist and many countries use them extensively, even "nice" ones.
Nic shrugs at the gun check request. "Just the usual for me, Linc. Stunner, don't like deadly guns. Got a static blade from my trader days, for boarding actions. I mostly depend on my unarmed training. I made Sayokan master a short while ago, so I'm good there."
"I am armed, but I have never shot at anything other then skeet...this will be a strange day indeed." Ben says with a frown.
Malaxius quickly turns his comm off.
Sry... didn't think about that.
Concerning guns - I still have that laserpistol you organised for me, Linc, and showed me how to use, you know ...at the excavation 3 years ago?
Always kept her in order but also never had to use her outside training. I've also got a stunner.
Zirelle shows her weapon collection
Holmgang Sword, Stunner, Accelerator Rifle, and VM-11
How big and empty would that container be? I have a tent that can be pressurised - if we have enough space in there that could maybe help? Couldn't it?
The container is likely a standard size... they make them that way so they can stack them, but I have no information about what will be inside, other than that it is a supply run, so I assume it will not be empty, but the person providing the opportunity also wants us to succeed, so there will be space for us. I really have no other information. Bring it and see? It isn't going to be a vacuum situation, just that the environment will be sealed so the oxygen will only last so long.
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After the meeting, Malaxius will seek Nics advise on vaccsuits and buy the same model as he did for 11650cr.
He is also looking for a climate-control upgrade for his pressurisable tent.
After the meeting, Nicholas heads for the lowport, once there he before he picks ups his new vacc suit etc. he also buys several liters of space proofed disposable bottles of water that can attach to vacc suits.
The newly-expanded team makes their way to Winter Shipping’s launch point. The cargo containers are laid out, ready for the crew of the shuttle to pick them up in a few hours. According to your contact Exceedingly Discreet, the western perimeter fence will be unguarded and unrecorded between 0742 and 0749 due to an "unforeseen problem" with the security equipment.
So tell me how you're getting over, around or through the fence and what else you do to be swift and stealthy as you locate and enter the correct cargo container!
At the appointed time, Zharis throws her backpack over the fence and follows by climbing it.
Then she grabs her bag again, waits for the rest of the team to get over, and sends them sprinting towards the cargo containers. She comes after, obscuring any footprints if there is dust or other residue that would leave them.
When Malaxius turns up he's dressed in his practical "expedition-outfit" strapped into a big backpack and carrying a traveller-bag. He looks very much like an outdoor-tourist who got lost on the way to his flight.
He follows Zirelle's lead closely, flinging his baggage over the fence and climbing it right after her.
At the moment the cameras went down, Linc was passing down the Western perimeter fence line in a brown "DHL" cargo delivery service uniform and wearing a hand drawn security badge.
The uniform helped him blend into the crowd of other delivery personnel moving around with purpose.
He was hauling a crate containing his vacc suit, weapons, extra tanks and power cells on a hand truck, his ball cap drawn down shading his eyes.
As the clock started ticking, he stopped at a point where the fencing was attached to a fence pole.
He used a tool set to swiftly unbolt several anchor points the fence was attached to. Moving it aside, he pulled his hand truck through, (and anybody else who wants to get through), brushed out his tracks, then rebolted the fence to the fencepost on the inside.
Then he moved down the rows and rows of cargo containers, looking for the matching serial number of the container which was their target.
Nic, having co-ordinated with Linc, and similarly disguised and equipped, pull his cart with his vacc suite and supplies, and has his engineering toolkit luggage, with him, detached from the other kits that are left in his storage room. With Linc having a mechanics kit, and Zirelle electronics, Nic brings the engineering stuff, no reason to have too much mass carried. He follows through behind Linc, helping to find the right place.
Ben will follow the others and then go through the hole that Linc made.
If you're doing something, you should make a check. If Zirelle is quiet as a mouse you might still step on a rake or something.
Concerning hacking: Is Electronics (Computers) the right skill in this situation?
Yep! In Traveller there are often multiple skills that -might- apply to a situation. Depending on -how- you tell me you're accomplishing something. One character might get into a building by Stealth, another by Diplomacy, another by Deception and still another might gain a bonus by rolling first Admin, then Deception. It's less deterministic than Pathfinder/D&D and more whatever you can get the Referee to agree to.
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With Linc's combination of clever-ish disguise and handy vandalism skills, you cut through the fence and approach the cargo container. There are six such containers ready for pickup but you easily find the one designated by Exceedingly Discreet and duck inside.
The space is cramped - half filled with wrapped pallets strapped to the floor and labeled things like "potable water" and "cleaning supplies". There is enough room for you to squeeze in. Someone has thoughtfully left a pile of packing blankets and six spare oxygen hoods (which have enough air for four hours each).
That's when you realize you have a problem. How do you seal the container from the inside. It uses magnetic bolts but is usually shut from the outside.
[ooc]So I suppose it would be:
At first things seem to go well, but at the last meter above the ground, Malaxius slips. He manages to catch himself, but the fence rattles audibly. He turns red in the face and feels rather stupid, especially when Linc opens a comfortable hole in the fence.
Inside the container, he says to Zirelle:
"What was the plan from here?...If you've got some kind of interface, we could hook up wireless with the controls of the door, maybe I can try to close the door that way..."
Nic responds to Mal, "Plan? All this smacks of hasty improvisation. Very risky. But plans are a good idea, I'll see if I can call up some on my datapad." Nic uses his computer (Comms are off, of course) to access the database he owns to see if he has maintenance specs on this type of container or the type of locks it uses by manufacturer to help him determine how we go about this.
Familiar with his database and maintenance procedures Nic searches for specs.
He is working for a while on his computer
"Alright...this should do it!"
Pressing his pad with a self-satisfied grin...only to feel like an idiot again when absolutely nothing happens.
"I have a vac suit if we need to use it to survive for a time." Ben says with some trepidation.
Listening to everyone go over the problem Zirelle realizes that she has seen this kind of seal before. Since she is trained in life support systems she knows the specific commands for getting it sealed to protect the air from being vented from the inside. She pulls up her system and puts the intelligent interface to work getting it done, hopefully within their time constraints.