Contract #3: I, Robot?

[Drew Buddy]

Doc nods in agreement.

"Well, we're getting in underground, right? The main thing is to sneak past their outer layer of security. I imagine that's where it'll be the most thorough."

[John]

Max nods and says,

"Well yeah, when we're actually running the infiltration. I'm just referring to right now. Does this thing have any smuggling compartments?"

[GM Nick]

LED's built in to the roadway direct Doc towards a strange looking platform, flanked on either side by a robotic arm. As soon as the Rover comes to a complete stop, a set of four claws attach themselves to the car's wheel spokes. The platform lifts up and a large robotic arm carries the platform to the security lane--a large walkway some 20 or so meters in the air.

[Stephen]

Val shifts uncomfortably in his seat.

"I don't know, 'manos. I'm leaning towards checking 'em in. If we're unarmed and trouble starts, we can at least high tail it back to the lockers, load up, and drive off into the sunset. If one of us is stopped for any reason and they find any of the monstrosities that we're all so fond of hiding under our coats, there'd be no way of talking ourselves out of that one. Any firefight would turn into more than we could handle pretty quick out here in the open. I say we just go in quick and unarmed, keep a low profile, snap a few pictures, wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am and get the frag out. Then we can reconnoiter and begin the infiltration in earnest."

[Elliott]

"I'm not handing over my sword either. Let's just try to leave everything in the car. I doubt they care if there is anything besides a bomb left in vehicles."

[GM Nick]

The airborne platform finally connects to the security lane, one of many, like phalanges on a giant organism. The claws that had fastened to the Rover's wheels retract and a pleasant voice says (in English, Spanish, German, Mandarin and Japanese simultaneously) "It is now safe to exit the vehicle. Please proceed to central processing."

[Drew Buddy]

Doc sighs, and opens the door,

"Val's right. We're fragged if we get caught on the surveillance run. If we get their security all hot and bothered now, then breaking in later is going to be hell."

[Elliott]

Tyros places his scabbarded claymore in the storage compartment at the back of the rover and steps out of the vehicle. Tyros hates being parted from his sword, it's a part of him both emotionally and magically, but he has no real fear of being unarmed. As long as he has his magic, he can defend himself quite capably. Looking around carefully to make sure he doesn't trip over some drone or fall off a ledge, he proceeds to the security checkpoint.

[GM Nick]

The security lane cuts through the center of the arcology, but its height invokes a sense of (likely intended) isolation. The only way to go, besides back to the Rover, is straight ahead, which leads directly into the primary security terminal. The air on either side of the lane is filled with holographic advertisements for Mitsuhama's products and services. A few other civilians mill about, but they avoid making contact with the runners. It's generally fairly deserted.

[Drew Buddy]

Doc walks toward the security terminal, re-checking his pockets for any items he might have forgotten to stow. He'd become so accustomed to carrying around a small arsenal, that he'd almost forgotten to remove the SMG from under his jacket and leave it in the car, familiar as the cold pressure on his side had become. The absence of that weight makes him feel naked.

"Is it possible we've found a population as paranoid as the 'burbclave from a week ago?" He asks, eying the security office.

[GM Nick]

A Mitsuhama officer in full body armor watches the team through a combat mask. He gestures towards a carbon-steel archway that's lit up with an array of blinking LED's.

"Proceed to the scanner."

[John]

Max steps forward casually. With his shotgun in the rover, there is little to be concerned with walking through such security measures.

[GM Nick]

(( Proceeding assuming you are all behaving yourselves. ))

The motley group, having been cleared by security, proceeds down a large flight of stairs to the main atrium. A fountain serves as the centerpiece for the platform, which is about 50 meters in diameter. The fountain itself is at least a story tall, and fashioned in the likeness of the Mitsuhama logo. Lanes, similar to the security walkway, spread out in four separate directions, going to each quarter respectively. The atrium is mostly deserted, with the exception of an information drone, which rolls up to the runners and flashes lights at them eagerly.

[John]

Max snaps some pictures of the area at large and activates the information drone. In particular, Max is looking for anything that might clue them in on how to disable primary power and mess with the security systems.

[GM Nick]

Max stares down at the little drone. "How does the arcology generate power?"

"You have inquired about... power-plant. The Rikei has a fully independent power generator, capable of sustaining the entire arcology in the event of societal collapse or political unrest. The translucent aperture you see above you..."

The drone emits a visible laser that sweeps across a portion of the lens, high above.

"...contains a colony of micro-solar harvesters. This accounts for 12% of the arcology's power. A cold-fusion reactor located in sub-levels beneath the research quarter provides an additional 79% of the arcology's power. End of data. Do you have further inquiries?"

[John]

Max looks at the drone and asks,

"What redundancies are built into the power system of the arcology?"

[GM Nick]

"The arcology contains 371 Omega type 13 titanium-magnesium batteries that operate in a round robin configuration. The arcology can continue to function on stored power for 28 days, approximately, without intervention."

[John]

Max redirects,

"Tell me about the research quarter. How do I get there?"

[GM Nick]

"The research quarter is devoted solely to Mitsuhama's scientific endeavors. It can be accessed by following the orange floor lighting along the Eastern lane. It is off-limits to civilians."

[Drew Buddy]

Doc taps Max's chest with the back of his hand,

"You heard the drone, let's go, um-" He looks at the drone again, choosing his words, "see the sights."

[Conway]

After looking down upon the arcology from the vantage of the walkway for a time, Sinjin mentally notes the layout and general direction of the illuminated orange guide lines. A sudden thought leads him to speak. He holds an arm out, signalling the others to wait for a second.

"What happens to the arcology's trash?" he asks the automated information bot.

[GM Nick]

"You have inquired about... refuse. The arcology is 97% self-sustaining, although commercial waste and non-hazardous debris is compacted and then incinerated."

[John]

Max shrugs and consoles Sinjin with,

"Worth a shot."

Max heads casually toward the entertainment district, keeping an eye out for access to the aforementioned sub-levels where the reactor for the city's power is house.

[Stephen]

Val peers around like a gawking tourist as he follows the team along at a short distance. He performs a quick scan for hidden nodes and performs a brief analysis, trying to get some idea of monitoring device density, nearby security drones, and any of the arcology's systems which might be accessed wirelessly.

[GM Nick]

As soon as Val fires up his AR programs, his commlink alerts him that he's being scanned.

[GM Nick]

Max walks to the edge of the atrium platform, just about the spot where a walkway breaks off and heads towards the entertainment quarter. Purple LED's flash beneath his feet, in tune to his foot steps, lighting in sequence further and further towards the intended destination like an electronic echo.

The drop is about 10 meters. The floor of the arcology is a network of pipes, conduit, environmental ducting, and access panels.

[John]

Max glances about looking for any security personnel, drones, or trip wires, snapping pictures as he does.

[Stephen]

Val shuts down his programs as his eyes flick toward the information drone which retreated from the rest of the team a moment ago. He spins toward it casually, as if he'd been looking for it all along. With a vacant and expectant smile plastered on his face, he silently queries the drone via wireless squirt as to the "naughtiest" of Rikei's nightclubs in the entertainment district. Behind his purposefully idiotic countenance, he can feel his heart pounding out a frantic rhythm while a bead of sweat slowly makes its way through one of his sideburns. So much for that, he thinks nervously.

[Elliott]

Tyros walks slowly behind the team. Switching to astral vision he makes a full survey of his surroundings (roll ascensing in any magical security). As they make their way, Tyros quietly says, "Keep an eye out for a security officer that looks like he knows what he is about. If we can get him secluded for a moment, I'll learn what he knows."

[GM Nick]

Assensing Test (Tyros)

[Assensing (3) + INT (2) = 2]
2 6 3 5 2

Tyros switches his perception to the astral plane, which is fairly barren in the mechanical super-structure. A watcher spirit hovers nearby, and Tyros can only assume it is watching the team.

[John]

Max moves on toward the entertainment district to get a look at active security presence and the general demeanor of the people of the arcology. The elf puts a cigarette between his lips and lights it, puffing on it ponderously.

[GM Nick]

The Entertainment lane descends and ebbs ever so slightly to follow the curvature of the circular structure. Max looks out over the massive expanse of the arcology and realizes that the residential quarter would be an exact duplicate of the entertainment quarter, albeit on the opposite side. That places the commercial and research quarters in the dead center of the arcology. His eyes follow the lineage of the architecture. It becomes apparent that the two central quarters span vertically as well as horizontally. The civilian quarters are flat, like a city block, whereas the company's quarters have been built up and out to maximize space.

Faint pulsations of dance music and the smell of alcohol begin to wash over Max as he reaches the bottom of the lane and finds himself surrounded by small, mostly empty bars. The only patrons of these establishments are defeated looking salary-men, most of whom are slumped against the bar or watching tri-d rugby with disinterest.

A spy-drone, no bigger than a finch, buzzes Max's shoulder and flits away at unconscionable speeds.

[Drew Buddy]

Doc's head snaps to follow the drone.

"Anyone else's neck-hair standing on end right now? Something doesn't feel right."

[John]

Max feigns the kind of bravado that one only sees in the leader of a group who has led his fellow travellers to disappointing ends and isn't willing to admit it. The elf is keeping up appearances for any who might be watching. Subvocally, however, the elf asks for confirmation of what he thinks he read in Tyros's eyes and body language moments prior,

<Tyros, are we being watched astrally? Keep us posted on security surveillance that the rest of us can't see. You're our only eyes in that world.>

Max leads the group to a bar and says loudly,

"See?! Here's the place I told you about! Not much to look at, but they serve a helluva Seattle Chummerfragger! They use three kinds of vodka in them!"

Max gestures to the door so as to lead the team inside while suggesting,

<We might be able to find a wageslave who, with a little persuasion, might be able to give us some intel on this place. We just need to be careful who we talk to>

[GM Nick]

The bartender of the Blue Lotus looks up abruptly, his AR browsing session being interrupted by actual customers of all things. He reaches blindly for a clean glass, knocks it off the bar and grimaces as it shatters on the floor.

"Hey chummers, what are you drinking?