Contract #1: Big Man, Japan!

[GM Nick]

A large piece of industrial equipment--presumably a generator of some kind--sits near the rear corner of the building. Surrounding it are concrete walls, rimmed at their apex with razor-wire and a pair of security cameras. The top of the enclosure does appear to be open to the elements, probably to allow exhaust from the generator to vent.

[Drew Buddy]

Doc frowns at what he's seeing,

"Kato, you said you had 'number one idea' earlier. What exactly did you have in mind..?"

[Stephen]

Though he's almost certain of what he will find, Val attempts to analyze the security camera nodes, specifically to see if they are slaved to a master node, or whether he can access them individually.

[John]

Max spies the cameras and addresses Val,

"Any chance of looping the video feed of those cameras so they don't display what's really going on out here?"

(( Perhaps Nick can just jump in and let us know if this is possible. ))

[GM Nick]

(( Anything is possible! ))

Scan Test (2)

[Scan (5) + System (6) = 5]
2 5 2 5 5 2 2 4 5 4 5

Val locates the node controlling the cameras.

[GM Nick]

[ Pachinko Parlor ]

Sinjin carefully slides the grate off and eases himself down by way of a reverse pull-up.

Infiltration Test

[Infiltration (5) + AGI (5) = 5]
6 4 5 2 2 4 5 5 5 1

Perception Test (5)

[Perception (3) + INT (4) + Distracted (-2) = 1]
1 4 1 1 6 **Glitch!**

The Yakuza goons are so invested in their macho pissing contest that they completely fail to notice the large orc drop into the room and crouch behind the desk.

[Stephen]

"Just gimme a sec guys. Should have this done right quick. Watch my back."

Val sits against the planter and switches to VR. He runs his Stealth, Firewall, and Armor programs, and attempts to create a security account for himself on the camera node.

[Elliott]

((Don't forget about the Troll! Tyros is looking for the heating/furnace room.))

[John]

Surveying the scene in the alley, Max drops back from the corner of the building a step and thinks. Suddenly, the elf has a flash of inspiration for the situation not his own, and opens the comm channel,

<Sinjin, you said a couple of yak bosses were having it out over something, right? Tyros, what if you take control of one of them and turn the fight physical, and use that as your basis for what destroys the building rather than a random fire. Perhaps from that point the use of actual explosives will be more justifiable.>

[GM Nick]

Stat1C5hade soars through the data-stream, arms akimbo, fingertips creating contrails in the swirling miasma of data that coalesces around him. As the avatar approaches the protected security node, his silhouette flickers and becomes translucent.

Matrix Stealth Test

[Hacking (4) + Stealth (4) = 3]
6 3 4 2 6 4 3 6

Matrix Scan Test (3)

[Scan (3) + System (3) = 1]
3 3 3 1 6 3

The avatar floats up to the node, evading its security software.

Matrix Armor Test

[Armor (4) + Firewall (5) = 5]
4 1 6 3 6 5 6 3 6

A sphere of glowing hexagons surrounds Val's avatar as his armor program quickly programs a firewall policy.

[GM Nick]

Hack on the Fly Test (3)

[Exploit (4) + Hacking (4) + Codeslinger (2) = 6]
6 6 6 5 5 6 2 4 2 3

Val's avatar reaches forward, fingertips splitting into forks of binary data that squirm their way through the node's firewall--utilizing a popular exploit against the node's operating system. He quickly creates a user account for himself and withdraws from the node's peripheral firewall.

[John]

Max stands over his new comrade and comments,

"It's weird how he just vanishes inside himself like that. It's kind of like watching somebody have a seizure..."

[Stephen]

An invisible smirk quickly flits across Val's faceless avatar as he logs on to the node using the account he's just created and commands the node to loop the video footage of the two cameras overlooking the generator enclosure. That done, and just before his return to the meat, he attempts to edit the access log of the node, erasing any evidence of his icon's passing.

<Cameras are down, 'manos. Just cleaning up here, and I'm good to go. I'll catch up in a sec.>

[GM Nick]

Tyros steers the dishwasher through two swinging doors and on to the main pachinko floor. The place is packed. The troll casts about for a probable location for a service stairwell.

[John]

(( Gonna preempt a little here so Max doesn't have to wait for word from Val just to keep things moving. ))

The cameras functionally disabled, Max rounds the corner and surveys this new side of the data center. Doing a quick scan for doors or windows from which they could be spotted, Max reaches up and pulls himself toward the razorwire. The elf checks to see if the wire is perhaps electrified or tied into a security system. His wireclippers in his teeth, Max reaches for the razorwire and works at snipping the wire clear so the team can climb up to the vent.

[GM Nick]

A disembodied monitor displays an overhead image of the generator, showing the same footage on a ten second loop. The selected footage lacks any artifacts and appears to be a real-time image to the casual observer.

Edit Test (2)

[Edit (5) + Computer (4) = 5]
5 6 6 3 6 3 1 6 2

Stat1C5hade re-compiles the access log, omitting any mention of his actions. It's as if he was never there.

[Drew Buddy]

Doc grunts at Max before he takes off,

"Didn't think of that. Is that what I look like when I'm flying a drone?"

[GM Nick]

Climbing Test (2)

[Climbing (2) + STR (3) = 2]
3 5 6 3 1

Max pulls himself up, using irregularities in the concrete surface as hand-holds. Once near the top, the elf begins clipping sections of the razor-wire.

Kato watches from below and nods approvingly. "Just like spy tri-deo."

[John]

Through grunts of exertion at holding himself steady, Max quips,

"Nah, you take on a more vegetative look-- like any moment somebody should be pulling the plug on you."

Satisfied that he's clipped enough to slip through without harm, Max raises himself up.

[Elliott]

Tyros forces the dishwasher back into the kitchen for a moment and reaches out to almost touch the man's head (centering) as he downloads the poor little man's knowledge (mind probe, f3, looking for where the furnace and gas hookup is located, as well as any other potential fire hazards the cook might know).

[GM Nick]

Mind Probe (f3)

[Spellcasting (6) + MAG (6) + Power Focus (2) + Sustaining: Control Thoughts (-2) = 1]
4 3 4 4 3 3 4 6 3 3 2 4

Tyros makes a superficial pass of the man's mind and discovers only his surface thoughts, none of which include anything about gas lines or furnaces.

Resist Drain (4)

[WIL (4) + LOG (6) + Centering (4) + Focused Concentration (2) + Sustaining: Control Thoughts (-2) = 4]
1 3 4 6 5 4 1 5 1 6 2 4 2 3

[GM Nick]

Max balances on the edge of the wall and looks downward. The drop is approximately 4 meters, but a large hydrogen generator is just a footstep away. A service ladder on the side will suffice for a safe downward journey.

The cage is small--there are only a few meters in between any of the three outside walls and the generator itself. A sturdy door with a mag-lock lies against the building's exterior wall.

[John]

Max calls back out,

"Got a maglock out here-- who's good with a sequencer?"

[Drew Buddy]

Doc thumbs a few commands into his commlink, and loads up his climbing activesoft.

Placing his hands on the wall, his movements feel unnaturally steady and sure. He begins to climb.

"I think either Val or I can take care of that," he huffs.

[GM Nick]

[ Pachinko Parlor ]

"You're not even fit to be in the family! You make me sick!"

Sinjin winces as the desk he's crouching behind shakes violently. He can only conclude that one of the Yakuza must have been shoved against it.

"How dare you touch me? And, come to think of it, how dare you accuse me of using company product? This is my own--I brought it from home!"

[GM Nick]

Climbing (2)

[Climbing (2) + STR (3) + Climbing Activesoft (2) = 3]
5 6 1 1 3 4 5

Doc quickly scales the wall and joins Max in the generator cage.

[GM Nick]

The door to the side of the building swings open. A young elf in a beige jumpsuit steps halfway-through, a spliff hanging from the corner of his mouth. His hands, which had previously been patting his various pockets for a light, freeze in place. A look a bit like a hellhound caught in a rover's headlights washes over his face.

He looks at Doc. Then, Max. His gaze begins a slow and perilous journey from the two intruders, up the wall and stops at the large gap in the razor-wire.

[John]

Max is on the man in a flash, subduing him and his inevitable cries for help.

[Drew Buddy]

Doc leaps behind the man.

Taking off his jacket, he wedges it in the door frame, allowing him to close the door most of the way, without engaging the mag-lock.

[GM Nick]

Melee Combat

[Subduing (5) + AGI (10) = 4]
4 5 5 5 4 1 2 4 2 4 6 2 4 4 2

Max grabs the man and throws an arm over his mouth, muffling his cries.

[John]

The elf holds the man in a chokehold and growls,

"Make a sound and you're flatlined."

Max tightens his grip around the deepweeder's neck and renders him unconscious. The the man unconscious, Max roots through his pockets for anything useful.

[Drew Buddy]

While the one elf searches the other elf, Doc cracks open the door, and peers through.

< Val, you coming, man? >

[Conway]

Sinjin rolls out from behind his hiding spot to flank the two men, cutting them off from reaching the door and their exit. Attacking quickly, he drives a powerful elbow to the back of the nearest mans head, attempting to knock him out cold.

((Unarmed Combat, Critical Strike, +2DV Savate))

[GM Nick]

The spry ork leaps into combat.

[ Sinjin = 42 ]
[ Yakuza 1 = 24 ]
[ Yakuza 2 = 21 ]

Melee Combat

[Savate (7) + AGI (5) + Critical Strike (4) = 4]
4 6 3 4 6 4 4 2 1 2 3 2 3 6 6 1
[Unarmed Combat (3) + AGI (5) = 2]
1 5 1 1 4 3 6 2

There's a --thwock-- as Sinjin's meaty elbow connects with the man's cranium.

Damage Resistance (13S)

[BOD (4) + Armored Suit (2) = 2]
3 1 6 1 6 1 **Glitch!**

The Yakuza stiffens and crumples forward, his eyes rolling back into their sockets. (( 11S damage. ))

[GM Nick]

The second Yakuza goon lets out a piercing cry as he steps forward to deliver a swift roundhouse kick.

Melee Combat

[Unarmed Combat (3) + AGI (5) = 4]
2 6 3 6 1 3 5 6
[Martial Arts (7) + AGI (5) = 5]
2 5 1 3 2 5 5 1 4 6 4 5

Sinjin anticipates the attack and feints, removing himself from harm's way.

[ Sinjin = 35 ]
[ Yakuza 2 = 18 ]