Contract #5: Marcus Bell: Enemy of the State!

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:35 pm

"Hard to say. We estimated UCAS defectors to legion to be close to a thousand. I'm sure he's picked up support along the way, from militias, gangs--hell, maybe even corporations. Don't forget about that Tir alliance. I'm sure he didn't do it just for the sake of the elven race. But given the facility's isolated nature, and the infrequency of the supply runs, I can't imagine you'll encounter a full barracks."

John · Post by **John** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:39 pm

Max's ears perk up, and he follows,

"Do you have any further information on the supply runs? That might give us a good idea of what we're up against." Max turns to Val, and suggests, "Maybe you could find something in the matrix about it? Track down their suppliers, and we might be able to find cargo manifests and drek like that."

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:58 pm

"The supply truck looks to be an Ares Roadmaster from our satellite footage. Calgary is the closest city for resupply."

John · Post by **John** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 4:16 pm

The mens' voices bounce off the concrete walls of the unrepresentatively barren concrete room in which the meeting takes place. For all of FRSR's financial gains, the team still meets in the same room in which they first assembled, with its overhead lamps casting oily stains of dim drear about the chamber. Tactical area maps hang on the walls with various lines, circles, exes, and other notes drawn on them in red marker. A half-empty water cooler sits in the corner beside a pile of old folding chairs. Somehow, despite the disparaty of the room from the rest of the facility, it makes sense for the team: well armored and equipped on the surface-- no bulldrek underneath.

Kato sits in one of the folding chairs beside and behind the team as they all look on at the holographic projection, bouncing his right leg impatiently. Flecks of dust float in the beam of the projector.

Max rubs his mouth with his left hand and ashes into a glass ashtray with his right. "Sounds like Calgary is a good place for us to finalize our plan of attack-- once we figure out how to get there, that is." Max locks eyes again with Clark and asks through a rising drift of cigarette smoke that dances in the cheap light, "So, what are we talking about in terms of payment? And what can you offer us in the way of military ordinance?"

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:23 pm

"I'm authorized to spend up to ¥500,000 from my discretionary budget. I can't legally supply you with any equipment that belongs to the Corps., but I'll assist with what limited satellite coverage we have while you're in the field."

John · Post by **John** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:30 pm

Max gives Clark an impassive look, and says,

"I don't feel like that sum is appropriate for the mission you're outlining for us, Major. Exposing Bell-- which was done for free-- would be worth that alone. You could get any group of mercs to run in, guns blazing, for five hundred, but we're the only ones you're likely to come across who have tangled with this fragger-- twice-- and have come out on top both times. Our experience with the subject I'd say values us fairly at ¥750,000."

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:42 pm

Negotiation Test (Max)

"I suppose I could convince the brass to increase my budget... but ¥750,000 is too much. ¥600,000 is the highest I can go."

John · Post by **John** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:49 pm

Maintaining eye contact, Max returns,

"I've read enough government budget reports to know that the military brass doesn't blow its nose for less than ¥100,000 a pop, and this operation is a far cray more important to the UCAS than the budget committee having a case of the sniffles. ¥725,000."

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:52 pm

Negotiation Test (Max)

"Sorry, Max. I can't overstep my bounds here. It's ¥600,000 or I go back to screaming at bureaucrats in boardrooms for the rest of the year. You can rest assured the funds won't be monitored, you have Uncle Sam to thank for that."

John · Post by **John** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:10 pm

Max narrows his eyes and studies the Major for a long moment, finally assessing that he will get no more blood from this particular stone. At least not today. The elf relents hesitantly,

"Alright, Major. ¥600,000 will be adequate. We wouldn't want a seasoned and decorated war veteran to have to endure any screaming bureaucrats. Is there anything more you can tell us up front?"

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:24 pm

Clark clasps his arms behind his back.

"Remember that these aren't your typical guns for hire or go-gangers. These guys are trained, ex-UCAS soldiers. They're clever, they're capable and they probably won't respect any rules of engagement now that they follow Bell. His followers are almost fanatical and he has support in some pretty unlikely places. No one is going to be there to pull you out of the fire, so make sure you have a contingency plan when you go in. We're after any information you can obtain on Legion, but Bell's location or his motive are our primary concern."

John · Post by **John** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:32 pm

Max nods, and returns with,

"All makes sense and understood. Please provide me with whatever information you can on standard UCAS security procedures. Since these guys are former UCAS, it stands to reason that it will give me some good insight into what to expect from them."

Max looks to his comrades, and says,

"Sounds to me like our first move is to look for a ways across the border, and that we should then regroup in Calgary. If we can find out who their primary supplier is, we might be able to sneak onto or steal a delivery vehicle of theirs as cover to get into the facility. Or maybe we split up and only some of us are on that team and some of us go another way-- we can figure that out in Calgary."

Max turns back to Clark, and asks,

"Do we have a time frame for this operation?"

Post by **GM Nick** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:00 pm

"Take a few days to prepare, but hit the facility by the end of the week. We don't want this opportunity to vanish."

Elliott · Post by **Elliott** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:26 pm

The chair Tyros is sitting in squeals in protest as the giant troll rocks back in it, hands clasped behind his head. It's all a lot to process, especially in the aftermath of the team's very resent mission in California. But Bell is a threat, of that there is no doubt in the Mage's mind. The imagine of a nano zombied British drek bag floating in the dead of space is enough to haunt Tyros' memories for a long time.

Giving a nod to Max, "My thinking exactly. If the Legion is getting supplied from Calgary, then they already have deals with the counsels to cross the borders. Easier to use our enemy's work against it and hide in or hijack one of those supply trucks. Calgary will tell us more about how to do that. Do we know anything about who or what is supplying the Legion there? We need a place to start looking for our way in, and I don't know a soul up in that frozen wasteland."

John · Post by **John** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:44 pm

"I figure that's something Val might be able to help work out. Any organization-- even an incredibly secretive one-- leaves footprints behind in its dealings. If Val can't work it out online, I should be able to sniff something out once we set down in Calgary."

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:49 am

Clark shakes Max's hand.

"I'm glad we could come to an arrangement. Good hunting in the Yukon."

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:59 am

Val stands, preempting Clark's leave-taking for a moment.

"Major, I assume you didn't just receive a few strange reports and then set your satellites to scouring the Yukon at random. You had any matrix guys playing the bloodhounds on this one? If so, I may wish to speak with the foreman. If they've found any Access IDs they can link to a Legion agent, opened any backdoors on nodes in the area, I want to know about them. I'm going to take a nap and then get to work." Val looks out the window at the rest of the platoon milling about in the yard. "You know where to find me."

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:06 am

"We lost control of several satellites when Bell defected. We believe that Legion is using a satellite up-link at the facility to pass encrypted data through to the matrix using one of the hijacked satellites. Our boys haven't had much luck intercepting data and that which we have intercepted is buttoned up pretty tight. Fact of the matter is, without access to military-grade communications equipment, you'll need to get pretty close to intercept any of those communications."

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:11 am

Val sighs and nods tiredly.

"Very well. It'd be a crying shame if someone made it easy for me for once. Major."

Val takes his leave of Clark and the rest of the team, off to get an hour or two's rest before sending the 5hade out to do some hunting.

John · Post by **John** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:13 am

Max smiles and takes another drag of his cigarette, stubbing it out upon exhale. The elf watches Val go, and says through the fog of cigarette smoke,

"Sounds like quite the party you've invited us to, Major. Transfer fifty percent of the sum to us and we'll get started."

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:18 am

A cloud of dust envelops the Firestarter courtyard as the UCAS jeeps, transports and assault vehicles spring to life. The ground reverberates and windows shake in their frames as the Juggernaut's vector thrust engines scream. A few minutes later, the Platoon is an assortment of specks on the horizon, departing the wastelands for the greener pastures of the United Candian and American States.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:28 am

Val tosses for the hundredth time under the twisted blankets of his cot. He's dead tired, but his mind won't turn off. The political factions of the Yukon territory are obscure to be sure, but Val knows there must be something useful he can dredge up from the half-remembered reports he'd read on the situation there. Political relationships are never as simple as they seem, and there just might be something there that could expedite their passage through the territory.

(( Roll Political & News knowledge skills on relationships and possible splinter group collaborations between Salish-Shidhe council, Athabaskan Council, and Algonkian-Manitou forces. Also roll News & Underworld skills for reports of illegal border crossings and names/locations of suspected coyotes. ))

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:33 am

Adams turns from the window as the last of the military vehicles disappear down the road. Walking over to a chair, he leans over and places his hands on the backrest. Eyes up and head down, he gazes at the remaining mercenaries in the room.

"Well, that's fragging great. One of the diciest situations we're going to be walking into, and we have to leave the heavy ordnance behind. There has to be a simpler way to get across the border with a minimum fuss. Kato, have you been keeping tabs on the local crime families? I don't suppose the Triads have expanded north, have they?"

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:39 am

Politics Knowledge Test (Val)

Val closes his eyes and massages his temples. Boundary squabbles between the councils are nothing new--the tribes have been rattling their sabres for the last few decades. Incidents are infrequent and fairly innocuous. A detained diplomat here, a truck full of illegal goods there. Rumors are that Algonkian-Manitou is in bed with Aztechnology, while it's no question whether or not Ares has key people in the Salish.

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:42 am

Kato chews on the end of his cigarette and takes a nip from a flask. He lulls his head at Doc and points at him with the cigarette, which is precariously balanced between fore and index finger.

"Triad and Yakuza treaty still rock solid, boss. Territory stay way they are. Lotta Russians up in Algon border, though."

A double jetstream of tobacco smoke evacuates his nostrils.

Elliott · Post by **Elliott** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:51 am

"Russians!? I love Russians. They are great fun and good drinking partners. Can't wait to meet them! For now, I'm taking a nap for a week. Then let's go."

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:52 am

Underworld Knowledge Test (Val)

Val swings his legs off the cot and fights through a devastating yawn. Border running is a common practice in the north, mainly catering to gun-runners and tribal gangs. His mind wanders as he attempts to recall the name of the Ukranian cartel that controls the human trafficking in that area. Eastern European refugees were right at home in the foreboding, frozen tundras. Old habits die hard and they quickly lapsed back into the organized crime that they knew best.

John · Post by **John** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:02 am

Max rubs his mouth and runs through his mental Rolodex of criminal entities in Seattle who may be able to introduce the team to the right people.

(( Roll Underworld, but also Clubs and Bars for any establishments that might be owned by Russians. Seattle Area Knowledge? Gangs? ROLL ALL THE THINGS. ))

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:06 am

Val snaps his fingers. Bingo. Though linking up with a Ukrainian organized crime syndicate sounds like a dangerous and unsavory prospect, Val recognizes that it's probably their best bet at getting both themselves and their weapons across the border while keeping it all under the radar.

His vigor somewhat renewed by the half-remembered lead, Val calls up an AR window and begins rooting through the matrix for more information. He begins his search by rifling through various news reports containing references to the regions in question and any mention of Ukrainian trafficking in the area. He needs a name, either of a man or a subgroup operating out of the Calgary area.

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:23 pm

Data Search Extended Test (Val)

After 5 days of extensively scouring, inquiring and otherwise coercing, Val is able to locate the name and contact information of a purported coyote operating near the Calgary area, under the name Alexei Joyride.

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:05 pm

Underworld Knowledge Test (Max)

The team's consummate detective slides a beer mug back and forth on the soiled bar top, watching as the foamy head threatens to breach the top of the glass each time. During his past life, he had taken many missing persons cases. Those cases always ended up with a cold trail, a cold body, or a cold Russian. The Moscow syndicate was big time into trafficking, and more than once the elf had to act as middle man in brokering a buyout to return someone's wife or daughter. His go-to had always been a barrel chested enforcer named Dmitri--the kind of tentative alliance necessitated by a common interest in nuyen. Max frowns into the glass, his own segmented reflection glowering back at him. He hasn't spoken to Dmitri in years.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:16 pm

Val massages the temples of his pounding head. A week of this drek, and all I've got is a name and a commcode. It's a good start, Val knows, but it's only half of what he had hoped to figure out by this point. Within a matter of hours, the team will have to begin arranging transport to Calgary and must depart not long after that, and they still need a way to get into the facility once they complete the border crossings.

Val files away the information on Alexei and begins another search, his quarry being the transport contractor supplying the Legion facility. He scours various data havens for customs records and bills of lading. He searches transport company sites, looking for contractors based out of Calgary who operate fleets of Ares Roadmasters and who offer service through the tribal territories in question. With so little time, it's likely they'll have to complete this legwork on the ground, but whatever head start Val can find now will likely save them a headache later, even if it makes Val's worse for now.

Drew Buddy · Post by **Drew Buddy** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:31 pm

Adams sits in the bar, staring blankly ahead as an AR map scrolls across his vision. The glowing overlay shows the peaks, valleys, roads, and most importantly, border between the Salish-Shidhe, and Athabaskan councils.

He's no stranger to border disputes, having spent most of his adult life fending off incursions from the Tir-Tairgir, then the Japanese, and finally the Pueblo Corporate Council.
When they hit a stalemate like this, there's always a pattern that emerges. They're going to want as much of their forces on their borders, without it looking like a military buildup. Where are you?

Pinpoints of light start popping up on the map as Adams marks it with likely troop and vehicle locations. Lines curve their way through the mountains in the likeliest route for the hidden reinforcements.

Gotta get them distracted, thinking the other side is testing them... Might be our best bet. Maybe a couple of cheap drones buzzing the border thirty klicks from... This mountain pass.

He marks the spot, and continues to study the map.

(( Roll combat tactics or military to figure out a way to get part of the border clear of ground forces ))

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:36 pm

Stat1c5hade flits through the ether, a translucent contrail following in his digital wake. The avatar is dwarfed by the enormity of the Seattle public sub-net, like a grain of sand in swirling galaxy. There are other avatars here: joy-girls bearing more or less identical bodies to those they inhabit in the real world, wage slaves costumed as anything from samurai to rock-stars to cartoon animals, and the subtle but always present decker, floating through the matrix with just a little bit too much panache.

Val's avatar moves between nodes, tagging and storing information in his chip as he goes. Calgary is full of Roadmasters--the weather basically requires it. He sets to work and begins to skim advertisements from rental agencies.

Data Search Extended Test (Val)

After less than 24 hours of searching, Val puts together a list of 6 different rental agencies in the Calgary area that offer Roadmasters.

Post by **GM Nick** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:07 pm

Military Knowledge Test (Doc)

Doc's pupils shift back and forth as he tracks the AR display, running a number of rudimentary military solutions. Treaties will have limited the amount of personnel allowed to man a border station, so that will be supplemented with equipment--turrets, maybe. Drones, definitely. A large number of reinforcements will be located somewhere nearby. A skeleton crew could not keep out an invasion for very long, so the reinforcements won't be very far away. There's definitely a window there. Ten minutes by ground vehicle. Five by air.

Border forces are likely equipped with assault weapons. They'll distance themselves far enough from each other that those weapons would be effective. That means a very narrow no man's land at the border itself. There will be razor-wire, trip-lines or mines; something to discourage runners.

Contract #5: Marcus Bell: Enemy of the State!

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