What lies behind our masks

What lies behind our masks
Date 2084-08-06 GM TidanShock Location Helena, SSC Status Threat Level: Deadly
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven Rat	Major Corp
Lappland Pasiphae Veles Vikar	Character1 Character2

Summary

A paranoid Johnson tasked a group of runners with uncovering a dark truth behind a budding group of magical supremacists. After managing to find the target with the information they needed, the runners managed to through... various means, capture them and bring the stories to light.

Background

See The Suite Life of Five of Nines for context. With that information in hand the Johnson was ready to help bring the magical supremacists to justice.

The Meet

Meeting near the lakeside of Bellevue, our group of runners made their way towards the Johnson who informed them of their target and where she was staying at in the Helena city of the SSC. Offering a payment of 16,000 Nuyen, the runners managed to squeeze 2k more out of him. Some brief research via the runners revealed basic clues as to the organization Fredrina (the target) worked for. As the conversation continued a brief comment from Veles however presented the opportunity that should the target be captured that the Johnson would be willing to reward more for such an endeavor. With the basics agreed on, the Johnson disappeared into the Seattle night with the runners left to decide their course of action.

The Plan

With an exceptional research through the matrix leaving both the comm lent by Pasiphae and Veles' hands hot to the touch, Veles managed to find out a lot out about Fredrina and what she was up to. Turns out she was a very prolific night goer who enjoys the night life and clubs. In particular a new one sponsored by Horizon named the Yellow Ball. Her security detail consisting mainly of 3 ork adepts that accompany her nearly at all times as well as brought along astral security wherever she goes. Vik immediately following this got an idea, contacting one Halvor Ingvarsson Vik managed to convince them to send forward a small group of mages to come over to the night club and provide a form of magical smoke screen from whatever magical security may lie in wait with an agreed payment of 6k nuyen in reagents for all that agreed to participate. Afterwards the runners got in their respective vehicles and headed across the border. The runners briefly stopped at the border where upon Fiver left a review for the motel giving it 5 stars. The following day the runners arrived at their destination, the beautiful city of Helena. With little time to sightsee the runners decided to do some recon and properly prepare for the run ahead. Vik decided that likely what may be best is reconnaissance on the club itself. Disguising himself as a janitor from a local company Vik managed to deceive his way into the establishment. Placing camera's to keep tabs on the place and figure out where Fredrina would be at once the time arrived. With help from Veles and her bombs Vik was able to complete the assignment and escape with some assistance via the spirits he summoned. Meanwhile Pasiphae looked around the surrounding areas where upon she found out despite being a B rated zone the local authorities were only half a kilometer away. With all these threats in mind Veles set up a plan. Vik would summon an air spirit to use the Toxious Breath power to stink bomb the entire club, making sure she would need to evacuate away from her private area. Veles would make and place bombs above all the exits so no matter which one Fredrina exited they could collapse that segment of the building on top of her and deal with whatever security remained. Pasiphae would look after the entrance and side door meanwhile Fiver would watch the back/emergency exit. Once Veles made her bombs and planted them, the runners were supposedly ready for the dangers that lie ahead.

The Run

As Vik headed inside the club at night a problem immediately reared its head in the form of 2 spirits, 2 mages that surrounded the bar, and a force 7 ward that surrounded the building preventing his spirit from entering safely. So Vik set about trying to find the source of the ward. Hopefully an anchor of some kind laid somewhere inside the building. Despite his efforts he was unsuccessful till an idea crossed the runners mind. Vik would send out his spirit to find a simple rat. They found set rat and after a brief yet forceful kick via Pasiphae at the restroom wall Vik got his hands on the rat which he proceeded to set loose on the bartender. Who through his bumping around trying to get the rat that now scurried around him. Through said bumping around Vik was able to bump into the barstool with enough force that the anchor fell over onto the floor dispelling the ward. With the spirits and mages distracted Vik's spirit was able to head towards the vents while Vik headed to get the car to allow a quick getaway. Once the gas had made its way around the building everyone began to leave via the front door. Fredrina however headed towards the emergency exit, where the runner's trap sprung. The ceiling collapsing on top of her and a fellow guard as the runners converged on her location as she lay unconscious. A scuffle occurred between the runners and guards, they were left with one ork guard that refused the die and only after a flashbang, 3 punches via Pasiphae and 2 full auto barrage's via Fiver did they go down. Vik's spirit managing to distract the other spirits before fading away. AS they materialized one full auto barrage via Fiver disuaded any future engagement. With all the threats disposed of with the mages still a good ways away the runners rapidly headed towards their getaway vehicle with Fredrina shoved in the trunk and local authorities in pursuit of the area. With careful driving and acting the car was able to get away.

Aftermath

After several failed attempts Vik was able to summon a guardian spirit that despite some difficulties was able to point the runners towards a nearby park located near the side of a mountain. They headed towards there and laid Fredrina against a tree further in the woods. A brief wake up and brief interrogation led to her nose getting punched directly via Vesel. Vesel immediately checked Fredrina's nose where despite the blood and mucus was able to see a small emergency com which Vesel quickly removed and tossed aside. After putting Fredrina back in the car they through careful medical knowledge and spite's drip fed Narco into the woman's blood stream to keep her unconscious. A brief call to the Johnson later led to a meet point near the border where Fredrina was then bound with mage cuff's and stowed in a mage coffin. With a job successfully done and extra nuyen in their pockets the runners went back towards Seattle after a job well done.

Rewards

• 16k Nuyen (8 RVP)

+2k (Negotiations) +6k (Optional Objectives)

• 14 Karma (14 RVP)
• 8 bonus CDP (4 RVP)
• Gear Rates for Bio or Cyberware

• Initation or mundane ascension for anyone involved

Optional Qualities

• First Impressions at chargen rates (11 RVP) for Vikor
• Tough as Nails at chargen rates (5 RVP per rank) for Pasiphae
• Natural Athlete at chargen rates (7 RVP) for Pasiphae
• Merk Samurai Way Quality at chargen rates (10 RVP) for Velles
• Ronin Samurai War Quality at chargen rates (10 RVP) for Velles
• Sharpshooter Samurai Wat Quality at chargen rates (10 RVP) for Five of Nines

Game Quotes

Drak:what happens if we give the rat k-10? GM: No, it will just die. for 6 seconds it will be the strongest rat in the sixth world then it will just die

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Five of Nines

What layeth in the cold heart of all men? Hand loaded APDS baby. From where you're standing this must look like a 12 guage smack of bad luck, but trust me darling, the game was rigged from the start. The house never wins when Nines' goes on the hunt, and thats no lark. Night night, boyo.