Contract #3: I, Robot?

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:38 am

"My name is Kojiro Takahara," intones the trideo projection.

The translucent figure stands in the center of the company's lounge. He's an older Japanese gentleman, dressed plainly in slacks and a cardigan. His hair is thin, gray, wrapped in a pony-tail. Though glasses have been made largely irrelevant by advances in medical science, he wears a horn-rimmed pair.

"I am a prisoner of Mitsuhama Corporation."

Takahara gestures behind him, and the vague relief of an armored door appears at the periphery of the trideo. He reaches forward and adjusts the camera so that a pair of thick-necked, dis-embodied heads float into view.

"These men have been assigned to me, to make sure I do not try and leave. I am thankful they do not speak English. I am encrypting this message and attaching it to a shipment of robotics equipment. My contact on the outside has promised to route it to a team of security consultants that he feels is capable of extracting me. It is imperative that I be extracted before the conclusion of my project. I'm being held in Mitsuhama's Rikei arcology. I will pay half a million nuyen to anyone who can..."

The sound of a door opening can be heard in the background of the message. Takahara knocks the camera on its side, so that the team is looking at a trideo hologram of half of a lab table.

"Please, you can't make me return to my work, I--"

END OF MESSAGE scrawls across the space where the hologram had been.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:50 am

Adams rubs his chin as the trid goes dead.

"That's a lot of scratch to just make a break from your employer. Wonder what it is that he's working on..."

He turns to the rest of the team,

"Well, this would be the biggest contract we've gotten to date, and it's right here in town. Seems like a no-brainer. I just wish we could have gotten more details from him."

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:25 pm

Val nods thoughtfully.

"Sure is a lot of dough. Wonder if I might be able to find some info on his or Mitsuhama's projects on the information black market. At least some indication of where his specialties lie. Some info on the arcology would be useful too. It's a long shot, but it couldn't hurt to try."

Val calls up an AR window, subscribes to the most historically useful data havens in his experience, and begins plugging in search terms.

//Keyword Search:
>> Mitsuhama AND current projects;
>> Mitsuhama AND "Kojiro Takahara";
>> "Kojiro Takahara" AND "curriculum vitae";
>> "Rikei arcology".

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:09 pm

Val transfers the results of his data search to the trideo projector.

A Japanese elf female in a suit appears in vivid detail. She paces back and forth across the diameter of the trideo's projection range.

"I want to personally thank the board members for taking the time to attend this press release, as well as the executive director of security for his ardent efforts in making sure we meet our deadline. Board members, shareholders, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you... Rikei!"

A midst thunderous applause, a spinning model of a towering, semi-spherical structure appears just above the woman's hands.

"Of course the real thing is just a tiny bit bigger," she says, to raucous laughter.

"Rikei represents over a decade of conceptual planning, innovative engineering and old-fashioned hard work. She will be open to Mitsuhama employees as early as next year and the general public by 2059."

The 3-d model explodes into sections, which pulse as the woman explains each's features.

"The residential quarter houses up to 5,000 people and includes accommodations normally only found in luxury housing. A park, hospital, school and library can all be found within. Next up, we have the commercial quarter, which houses offices, laboratories and work spaces--future homes of some of Mitsuhama's most important projects. The entertainment quarter is next, which houses a tri-d movie theater, indoor skating rink, and a number of bars and nightclubs. Finally, we have the research quarter. This high security area will be home to Mitsuhama's new robotics program, chaired by Doctor Kojiro Takahara. We're very excited to have Takahara-san on board and look forward to the fantastic innovations we know he will develop over the coming years."

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:29 pm

Val rises and walks to the side of the trideo projector. His face is serious.

"Well. As you can see, I've been able to determine that Rikei arcology has, in fact, all the amenities of an arcology. Furthermore, our researcher, Takahara, is indeed engaged in research for Mitsuhama. My work is done here. Guess I've earned a vacation."

Val cracks a sideways grin.

"Just kidding, 'manos. There are a few critical points I should outline here. (1) Security: We can expect at least 200 corporate security officers in and around the arcology, so subtlety is obviously going to be our preferred M.O. (2) Access: Rikei is built atop a geothermal vent. At some point, they had to retrofit the foundation due to a flawed initial geological survey, and it appears that Mitsuhama was a bit negligent in sealing up some access tunnels which they used during those efforts. That should be our point of entry. (3) Surveillance: Somewhere along the line, a flaw in Rikei's electrical infrastructure was leaked. If the backup power conduits are activated while the primary conduits are running, we can be fairly certain that it'll seriously interfere with their security cameras and other monitoring equipment."

Val returns to his seat, props his feet up on the table, and sits back in his chair with a self-satisfied smile on his face.

"So, about that vacation..." Val winks good-naturedly.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:48 pm

Doc nods along,

"...Will be granted when the scientist is on this side of the wall," he grins.

"Good intel. So we'll slip in through the tunnels, and see if we can activate the backup power to fry their security systems. We'll either have to find Takahara, or make contact with him once we're in. It sounds like they're eager to get him to finish his research, so I imagine we'll find him in the research wing."

He thinks for a minute,

"I wouldn't mind finding out what he was researching. Whatever it is, it has to be quite valuable if Mitsahama is going through all this trouble to complete it."

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:51 pm

Val nods again.

"Couldn't find much on his research, except that it appears he's playing around with some pretty advanced robotics. Not sure about the application. Looks like Mitsuhama's got that topic locked up tight. If we're going to learn more, I have a feeling it'll be on the inside."

Elliott · Post by **Elliott** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 4:16 pm

Tyros sighs, "this seems to be another mission where our payment is insecure, but such is our lot I suppose. We need to be extra careful not to be identified by Mitsuhama as it wouldn't be great for our reputation to be known as a security company that engages in corporate espionage, kidnapping and theft. That said, of we can steal some of their robotics data when we are in there and sell it on the black market, it could be a nice bonus."

Standing up, "The plan sounds good. Anything else we need to do to prepare? Bring your armor penetrating ammunition, boys, I have a feeling we are going to run into a lot of heavy drones."

John · Post by **John** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 5:21 pm

Max runs his hand through his hair before commenting,

"I'm with Tyros-- I'm not wild about jumping into another situation completely unsure of when and how we'll be paid. Also, I'm getting pretty sick of not being able to argue more money out of our contracts. I'll be sure to haggle with this guy once he's secure." Max lights up a smoke and continues, "As far as the plan is concerned, unless Val can pull of any schematics of the place, I think we're just gonna have to learn more once we get inside. What's the culture of this place like? Will we fit it on the streets, or are those of us walking in the visible spectrum going to stand out like sore thumbs?"

(( If it's applicable, please rolls Max's Seattle area knowledge as well as security procedures to glean any useful information. ))

Conway · Post by **Conway** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:50 pm

(( I'd also, if applicable, like to roll Security Design and Security Tactics knowledge skills ))

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:00 pm

Area Knowledge Test (Max)

Security Design Test (Sinjin)

Security Tactics Test (Sinjin)

(( PM'd. ))

John · Post by **John** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:33 pm

Max snaps his fingers and says with some excitement,

"That's right! I've been inside this place before. Had a client there about five years back-- met him for a drink to give him an update on his wife who was sneaking away to bondage clubs in China Town-- place called The Blue Lotus. Upscale kind of joint-- drinks are ten nuyen more expensive than they ought to be, liquor is watered down, and the women only show you enough to get you drooling, but not enough to get you really going. Though there was this one girl with a blue mohawk that wore this--" Max becomes aware that the entire time is giving him a strange look as he walks with a book over his crotch down memory lane, and defers, "Anyway-- I've been to the entertainment district. Security was tight back then and word is that it's only gotten tighter. Nobody but locals go there anymore, really-- it's not worth it as an outsider. Full-body scanners, security drones-- the guards were all tricked out with 'ware. Real top of the line stuff, ya' rez? At least, it was at the time. We're gonna need to look like we belong there if we're going to move around without much provocation."

Max takes a drag on his cigarette and thinks. Speaking almost to himself, the elf mumbles,

"Yeah, this might be a tough nut to crack..."

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:25 pm

Doc leans back in his seat,

"So, what d'you recommend for blending in?"

John · Post by **John** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:22 pm

Max looks about at the team's war-weathered dress and says,

"Reasonable civillian clothes. Anything else and we're not gonna blend in. That is... if we're worried about blending in."

Max gives the team a devillish grin as he cocks his eyebrows. The elf shakes it off,

"That's not an option, though."

Max is clearly a little disappointed.

Conway · Post by **Conway** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:25 pm

A light dances in Sinjin's eyes. "I did a few jobs like this until..." he trails off. "Well, lets just say until I was convinced not to. Never planned to again, either. We've got the right team for this level of operation, but we'll have to be a real frosty posse to slip through with no alarms. Any hang ups, and I'll wager we have 8 troopers and a hostile mage on the scene within minutes. Not to mention the ultimate robotic surveillance and security fleet to get past. It takes a particular kind of people to pull an operation like this."

Sinjin shares a brutish smile around the room. "Dangerous people."

Elliott · Post by **Elliott** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:58 pm

"I thought the plan was to sneak in using the access vents for the geothermal system. We just need to find access to the system itself from the outside. There is almost certainly a sewer connection to supply water. If we can sneak in that way and can make the surveillance system go haywire like Val outlined, we don't have to worry about blending in."

John · Post by **John** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:16 pm

Max responds to Tyros,

"I don't think you're getting it completely, Tyros. This place is huge-- it's basically a full neighborhood. Once inside, we'll more than likely have to make our way around via public streets at some point, and for that we'll need to look reasonably in place. We're not going to be able to remain unseen while we're inside."

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:54 am

"The access tunnels are only a possible point of entry. A good one in my opinion, but at the moment we don't know where those tunnels will emerge. For all we know, we could end up being spit out of a manhole in front of city hall during an open air town hall speech. I think it would be a good idea to have a contingency plan to blend in in case the need arises. I'll do some more picking about for a schematic of the arcology to help us get a better idea of where we're likely to end up and where to go from there, but pickings look pretty slim."

Val leans back and closes his eyes, which flick back and forth under his eyelids as he browses the data havens.

John · Post by **John** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:38 am

Max gestures simply and suggests,

"We could always do a pass of the place without our weapons and in plain clothes. I mean," The elf gestures to where the projection of the Japanese scientist floated and continues, "it's not like Akira here is going anywhere."

Elliott · Post by **Elliott** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:00 am

Tyros nods his head, "During which time I can subdue a security officer, mine his brain for details on how best to get in and then make him forget he ever saw us...but let's leave the weapons in the rover, just so they are close at hand."

John · Post by **John** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:04 am

Max points at Tyros and says,

"Bullseye. That's a good idea."

A look of satisfaction spreads across the elf's face as he continues to enjoy his cigarette over the dawning machinations of a new plan. Max may want to hate this sometimes, but when the lights go out at the end of the day and all he has to listen to is his inner-workings, the truth of the matter is that he lives for it.

Elliott · Post by **Elliott** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:17 am

"Shall we then?", Tyros stands up, hesitating to see if anyone has something else to add, before heading towards the rover.

John · Post by **John** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:37 am

Max feels no need for further reverie; recon missions in plain sight require little planning. Max heads to the barracks and changes into his actioneer business clothing. The elf slings Marlowe over his shoulder after taking a moment to admire the new burst fire modification he had installed the week previous. When Max had first started the work for the triads, he'd considered notching his shotgun for every enemy he put down with it. Max looks at the weathered look of his gun and can't imagine the number of hash marks that would cover it had he followed through on the idea-- he's glad he didn't.

Max heads to the rover and hops in the passenger seat.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:01 pm

Doc slides into the rover, and fires it up. His simple leather jacket looks decidedly civilian, and effectively covers the low-profile armor suit underneath.

"Allright, let's case this joint," he says, waiting for the front gate of the compound to open.

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:09 pm

The Rikei arcology can be seen from a kilometer away. A honey-comb of octagonal support interlinks form a huge semi-sphere. The structure is covered with a single, translucent lens that allows sunlight to permeate but protects the environment from the weather and air quality of Seattle's skies. Rikei's base extends from the bubble several hundred meters, providing a protective exterior that wraps fully around the compound. From this distance, it almost resembles an insect hive.

Doc banks the Rover along a U-bend on the interstate and takes one of the many ramps that leads up to a tunnel into the arcology's belly. As they plunge inward, a series of bright blue halogen lights strobe overhead.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:33 pm

Doc continues along the interstate, and peers upward at the lights.

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:49 pm

The Rover emerges from the connecting tunnel and the sky is suddenly a lot smaller. Sunlight filters strangely through the bubble's lens as harmful radiation is stripped out and intensity altered. A squadron of patrol drones streaks overhead in a perfect V-formation. Mitsuhama propaganda is everywhere. Every holo-board advertises a company product and every fire hydrant, every traffic drone bears the corporate logo.

Doc slows the vehicle as a security enforcer waves him to the side of the road.

John · Post by **John** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:55 pm

As the security officer approaches, Max suggests,

"Let me handle this guy."

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:56 pm

Doc nods, and rolls down the window as the rover comes to a stop.

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:03 pm

A muscular Japanese man in form-fitting body armor approaches the side of the rover. The Mitsuhama logo is clearly displayed over the breast of his uniform. He rests his hand casually on the stock of an Ares Alpha. Once Doc has the window rolled down, he peers inside. With a somewhat quizzical expression, he inquires,

"Nihongo or English?"

John · Post by **John** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:07 pm

Max leans over the center console to speak to the guard. With his face this close to Doc's, the elf regrets the garlic tuna he had for lunch.

"English."

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:26 pm

"The main road is closed for security reasons, please proceed along avenue B..." He gestures to a side road that passes through the security checkpoint. "After a security scan, you will be free to access the entertainment and residential quarters on foot."

John · Post by **John** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:32 pm

Max nods and asks,

"I'm a PI and I always carry protection. Will that be okay to leave in the car, or will it have to be stored offsite before we can enter?"

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:45 pm

"There are secure lockers in the security center where you can store firearms."

The security guard waves Doc to drive past.

"Thank you for choosing Mitsuhama."

John · Post by **John** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:50 pm

The elf nods and says,

"Thanks pal."

As the rover rolls off, Max asks,

"So what do you think, guys? I don't really want to hand over my shotgun..."

Contract #3: I, Robot?

Contract #3: I, Robot?

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