Down Sixth Street and across Memory Lane

Down Sixth Street and across Memory Lane
Date 2084-12-19 GM TidanShock Location Saint Petersburg, Russia Status Threat Level: High
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Major Corp
Six of Hearts	Character1 Character2

Summary

A nice vacation turns slightly tense as horrifying visions of the future now occupy the minds of one who simply wished to escape from the horrors of the world for but a moment. Succeeding in the task of course, but not without a cost.

Background

Six of Hearts simply wishing to enjoy some time away from the Seattle sprawl in her home of Saint Petersburg, managed to secure two tickets for a long vacation with hopefully her former partner, Tessen.

The Meet

Having arranged the flight and tickets ahead of time, to reach her secure commlink Six then talked with her, hoping to secure her for this endeavour. Some brief negotiations later, Six managed to secure Tessen for the flight but not without owing the assassin a favor in exchange. Meeting at the Seattle airstrip aboard a private flight the pair took off towards Saint Petersburg. The awkward silence occasionally broken up by memories of their homes when they were little. Tessen being a lot more reluctant to share details of what happened to her. As they flew over Saint Petersburg Six caught one strange thing with her eyesight. More activity both in terms of soldiers and civilians near bunkers and barracks that had been inactive since the Eurowars nearly 50 years ago. Despite that however the beautiful sights of the city struck their eyes as the Catholic inspired architecture and ornate fifth world buildings lined their windows. The pair somewhat choosing to remain ignorant of the remained of the sixth world concrete jungle that bordered it plastered with neon lights. Upon landing the two were met with a luxurious Eurocar Northstar... which is an SUV... (still can't get over that shit I STILL feel betrayed). The pair stepped inside and went towards their nice 4 star hotel sweet. Not overly expensive but still nice enough non synthetic food would be served if they got cravings while inside. Taking a moment to relax and plan out their stay, listing off several sights they could see and visit while staying there. Most of which being the museum and cathedrals, and a potential romantic boat ride down the portion of the river maintained by water spirits and filters.

Choosing to head towards the Saint Isaac's cathedral, the pair began to catch up as Tessen's tension seemed to dissipate as snow lined the ground and sky. A couple more provocations later led to Tessen feeling the cold drench of snow lining her back as Six assailed her with a snowball. What commenced was a superhuman display of cybernetic and magical prowess as the pair hurled snowballs and near the speed of sound. Six managing to clip Tessen's nose which led to a discussion as to whether or not it counted. The argument being stopped by cathedral guards asking the pair to stop as now a massive snow fight had broken out amidst onlookers which the guards had to calm. Realizing what they had done and knowing they had already seen enough of the cathedral they took their leave and headed back towards the hotel. Picking up nice Italian food along the way. Once again socializing before they slept in their separate rooms.

Eventually though the pair had a nice walk alongside the woods that occupied near the border alongside other tourists. Admiring the sight of old bunkers that the pair saw on their flight along the way here. Six noticing Tessen's attention shifting rapidly along the trees and small buildings dug into the ground. Suspicious but not thinking much of it, Six simply continued to enjoy the assassin's company. Upon reaching the car for a ride back, a brief kiss on the cheek turned far more tense than expected as the pair then headed back to the hotel.

However that night Six managed to hear strange noises as their motion sensor picked up on a figure repelling down the side of the building towards the ground. Ready to investigate what was going on, Six noticed Tessen gone and pieced the few pieces left together to paint the clear picture that Tessen had disappeared to the city below. And given how quiet the assassin was and her lack of footprints all Six could do was hope she returned for her things. Thankfully she did as the night passed on. A brief confrontation later revealing Tessen was only allowed to come on the guarantee she investigated certain on goings the ancients were curious about. The Russian border apparently employing far more guards than usual. Six then offered her aid in this, stating she'd do so free of charge for her friend and former lover. Sighing at this Tessen stated she did basic recon on the Barracks that bordered near Finland and the rest of Europe. Camouflaged and well armed guards alongside spirits and drones on active guard duty for seemingly no reason as of right now. With that in mind Six acknowledged the threat and still offered her help tomorrow night. Tessen reluctantly accepted Six's help. Thanking her for her aid despite all that had transpired.

The Plan

Securing the help of a skilled Ancients associated decker, the pair headed towards the barracks to finish the job and gather the intel required.

The Run

After the decker cleared the drones and Tessen advising when to sneak through the spirits Six could not see. They arrived at the entrance and looked for an opening to the underground section. Six looking about found a panel underneath a wooden table of which she was able to hack and grant access to Tessen and Herself. Her motion sensor picking up several guards downstairs with a majority asleep in their respective bunks. With the decker managing to disable the cams Tessen and Six snuck up to the door of the main control room, where two soldiers used the terminals with the needed information. Giving Six a knock out serum as well as lace to forget the few seconds they were being knocked out, they readied themselves and rapidly struck the soldiers. Six managing to knock out hers with one strike and then aiding Tessen who had slipped slightly. Managing to barely avoid detection Tessen stabbed an arrowlink into the terminal allowing access to the files there in where they saw a disturbing message.

Translated the message read as follows:

• Pvt. Dmitri: Again sir, I must inquire as to why we are here. It has been nearly 3 weeks of nothing transpiring. And what are we basing this on? Rumours of a coup? It seems ridiculous sir where we could be better deployed elsewhere.
• Col. Fyodor: First of all private, I will inquire as to where you got that information at a later date but even with that said we must be prepared.
• Pvt. Dmitri: Prepared for the most outlandish war imaginable sir? Countless precautions are in place to prevent such a thing. Erika, a double A having a coup? Sounds more like a trideo show than actual fact sir.
• Col. Fyodor: Private, I have little time for this nonsense and am ordering you to return to your station. But I will at least humor you slightly so you take your job more seriously from now on. If this turns out to be true, if the intelligence we have gathered turns out to be true. We are talking about a war amidst nations and megacorps. Enough people in the heat of it to put he Atzlan-Amazonia war to shame in terms of casualties and that border will be among the first attacked. You are the frontline in the circumstance your family is put at risk. Much like you are now for continuing this doubt. Now get back to your station else I will make my threats a reality. Understood.
• Pvt. Dmitri: Yes sir, over and out.

The horrifying implications found rung true to them both but more so Six as this was her home and it being in the center of a warzone did not bode well on her mind. But with this information at hand the pair quickly escaped the area and towards the hotel.

Aftermath

The two after the mission and tired from the running needed to ensure their escape led to an actual deep conversation. Tessen finally dropping her walls and revealing about how she was scared of losing others she cared about. A former surrogate father of hers being tossed to Yomi Island via Yakuza thugs who the man had crossed. Six leaving the ancients resolidifying that fear with no one left for her to bond. Six reassuring her that had changed and the future despite what they found would be brighter for the pair. Afterwards Tessen offered a proposal, either leave now like the original plan or stay an additional month and Six would have her with her walls down. Solidifying the deal with a kiss and... far more, the pair continued to enjoy each others company amidst a world on the precipice of something potentially far worse than either of them had seen before.

Rewards

• 10 Karma (10 RVP)
• 8 CDP (4 RVP)

+2 base CDP

Counts as Ascension

• Six of Hearts can raise Tessen's loyalty to 5

OPTIONAL QUALITIEIS

• Trustworthy (15 RVP)

RUN CONSEQUENCES

• The Kuro Hana (and higher ups in the ancients) have information in regards the ongoing situation in Russia
• Six of Hearts owes a chip to Tessen
• Six of Hearts pays 10,000 nuyen for the luxurious vacation and renting a fucking Northstar which I now know is an SUV I feel so betrayed and confused by this information.

Pnt9prcntcybrg (6'o'<3, Gallant)

Game Quotes

Amusing quote from game.

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Six of Hearts

"The implications of the information we retrieved are enormous... potential all out conflict between Erika and EVO? War on the Russian-Finnish border? It's not fair... all I wanted was to start mending the wounds I caused. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to help Tessen out however I can... I just... sometimes I wish I didn't have to fix things. I wish they weren't broken... that I hadn't broken them..."