In the Dead of Night

In the Dead of Night
Part of Festering Infestation
Date 2083-08-17 GM Archtmag Location Seattle; BC Status Threat Level: Semi-Prime
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven UCAS FBI Ancients	Saeder-Krupp
Swerve Skimmer Samsara Bannerette Katherine Tyler	S-K Commandos
Casualties and losses
	S-K Commandos.

Summary

Cassandra Withers, representing the UCAS FBI, wants some Runners to investigate some strange disappearances. Runners are going missing more than normal, and she suspects foul play.

The Meet

It’s just a normal Seattle day, and several Runners are sent messages offering work. There is a meeting in a rentable office space downtown at 3 PM. The building appears to be owned by Carmen Holdings, a shell company within a shell company. They respond, showing up to the meeting. The group consists of Babylon, Skimmer, Crazy Hoof, Spider, and Katherine Tyler. They all make it without incident. Almost. Hoof just about causes an incident by his mere presence, but they all made it to the room. Friendly hello’s were exchanged, and new introductions made. Mostly for Hoof, who Kate and Babylon had never formally met.

After some time talking, followed by silence, they all end up standing around looking at each other kind of confused. Then the TV flips on. On it is a very controversial figure, Cassandra Withers. Babylon immediately launches into a tirade. Off to a good start it seems.

Cassandra explains that they have had an issue with a mysterious force kidnapping Runners. Pretty solid Runners. Normally this isn’t a big deal but the frequency that it has been happening is slightly concerning. The UCAS FBI wants answers, but they know that Runners, or “deniable assets” can go places that even they can’t. Plus if the FBI starts asking around about Runners, they would meet stiff resistance. They want information but if the team can get more substantial evidence and intel about what is going on they would be willing to provide a bigger reward.

The group appears highly advanced and mobile. They leave no electronic trail, and are in and out quickly. The Runners immediately suspect heavy hitters, up to and including the Big 10.

Babylon continues to sass Cassandra though the whole briefing. Cassandra gives it right back. The group is given a dossier on several of the missing runners to help start their search. Soon the question of compensation is brought up. The runners, minus Babylon, ask for cash. God knows the FBI has it hand over fist. But Babylon asks for something more personal. She wants Cassandra to use her contacts to maybe make some of her criminal history go away. Cassandra promises that if the job is done to her expectations, she will see what she can do. There is some negotiation for more money, but Cassandra isn’t having it.

Devil's Lake

Annoyed, the runners finish talking to Cassandra and leave. They mostly leave in separate ways, but several don’t care and just take the elevator. Unfortunately, KE got a tip about Hoof. When the elevator opens there are several KE officers waiting to hassle him. Upon seeing him however, they hesitate. He’s kind of a big deal in person. Thinking quickly Spider hacks some commlinks and sends some fake messages urging the group on to another situation. They take some photos of Hoof and leave. The Runners bounce out, going their separate ways.

They think about places to meet up and conduct an investigation and eventually settle on the WCM base out by Devil’s Lake. Kate had been there and knows Bolt but the other Runners only knew them by reputation. Several knew Vic and held her in good regard. But going to the base itself is an experience. It’s a pretty solid operation, but is somewhat rough around the edges.

The Runners begin their investigations. And they are extensive. Spider begins spreading her web around the Matrix. Searching the dark corners of forums, news agencies, and even messing about with city surveillance records. She finds a huge amount of information about the Runners Cassandra gave them. She correlates the missing surveillance data with locations and begins to put together a list of possible abduction locations. She also catches a photo associated with these events. A high tech, blacked out attack helo was caught on a still leaving one of the scenes. Kate almost immediately pegs it as an Aztechnology Agular. The Gx-3AT specifically. It’s fast, deadly, and perfect for clandestine insertions. They are also expensive to own and operate. Even as a SEAL she mostly flew in Sea Sprites, which were much more economical. Agulars are built and bought for very specific purposes.

Babylon goes a different route. She reaches out to her gang contacts. She reaches out to Ether looking for info, but she could only provide a little info. There just wasn’t a lot to go on. Hextech was spouting something about cults in Glow City, so Babylon decided to call Chaplain Carmilla to follow up on this. After much sassing back and forth, Carmilla pretty much confirmed that none of the Glow City cults had the resources to pull something like this off.

They did determine that the craft flew out into a North by Northwest direction, and further searching pointed out to a destination in BC, probably near the coast. With this revelation, Babylon uses Oniero for some divination.

No one was finding anything really conclusive. So Hextech got an idea. Technomancers and deckers are crazy, and she set out to prove just how bad. She decided to skim the Dox. It’s a little known venture, and fraught with peril, but Hextech was set. She did succeed in her Techno black magic Matrix diving. They learned that certain blacksites exist. They learned that there is a Wuxing, Aztechnology, and Saeder-Krupp blacksites where they think the helo might have gone. This information was pretty invaluable. But there could be grave consequences to searching for it. The Dox is not to be trifled with, and time will tell if Hextech escaped unscathed.

Hextech also tried some Oniero, but instantly crashes when using it.

The group tries to find out more info. Kate calls Sahalé, who isn’t a contact but has been a J for her in the past. She couldn’t provide much info.

Babylon starts making some alchemical preps, and the group rests up a little. Cereprax hits Spider, and everyone relaxes for a little while. In the morning, a hungover Babylon calls Cassandra back. Cassandra seems to not know much more. Sass abounds. Babylon flips out. Good times. Cassandra thinks it might be the S-K or Wuxing sites, but has little evidence to support this.

Babylon decides to call Cecilia Cross. Cecilia is a friend and they have a pleasant conversation. Comparing notes, Cecilia bets that this is the work of the Saeder-Krupp site. They are in the right location, have motive, and most clues point that way.

They have a destination now. But breaking into an S-K blacksite is no mean feat. The team begins to prepare. Skimmer and Hoof now take a more active part of the discussions. Babylon calls Ether to try and see what resources she can muster. They do secure a patrol boat, and some fake SINs to match it as members of the SSC coastal patrol.

They begin to formulate a plan. There is much deliberation as to how to approach the site. Skimmer is a ghost, Kate is an experienced diver, and Hoof is about as subtle as a bulldozer. Plus there are the terminators, and Babylon and Spider.

Rewards

40k Nuyen - 20 RVP

40 Karma - 40 RVP

20 Bonus CDP - 10 RVP

2 CDP Base

+2 FBI Rep(for everyone except Babylon)

+2 Shadowhaven Admin Rep

-2 SK Rep

-2 Horizon Rep

-5 FBI Rep(for Babylon

Optional Contact: Cassandra Withers as a 8/1 - (8 RVP)

Optional Drake Contact as a (8/1) - 8 RVP For Babylon, as a (8/2) - 9 RVP

Optional for Hextech: (If thematics approves) The stolen Agular GX-3AT at Gear Rewards Rates, any other RVP converted - 280K if all converted

Optional Quality for Hoof. Tough as Nails. Up to 2 ranks. (10 RVP)

Optional Quality for Hextech. Can buy another rank up in WCM at chargen price.

Optional Quality for Spider, TDNL

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Katherine Tyler

My god.