Pawn Takes Bishop

Pawn Takes Bishop
Part of Portrait of Ruin
Date 2085-06-23 GM Anumati Location Constantinople Status Threat Level: Extreme
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven		Red Vory	Councilman Yavuz Balci
Nu11st@ck Nearl Cleaner Cleaner Eidolon		Multiple Security Teams, drone swarm, 1 security mage	1 Combat rigger Adept in a limo, 1 mage
Casualties and losses
		Multiple Security teams. Drone Swarm. 1 Mage	The councilman/ the adept and the mage

Summary

The team joins Nearl In Constantinople for a job to kill a sitting councilman of the Free City of Constantinople. They succeed but end up getting burned by the johnson. You can also check out Nothing but the Turks for previous context.

Background

The team comprising Eidolon, Nu11st@ck, and Cleaner Cleaner traveled to Constantinople. Their mission was to join an individual named Nearl and assist in the assassination of Yavuz Balci, a sitting council member in Constantinople. It was determined that the individual who hired them for this mission was also a council member, specifically Spartak Nalvani. All of this was so Nearl could find and save her Black Lodge connection of Yusuf Shabad, though nobody knew of this other than Nearl and her black lodge connection, Fire Mage. From the rest of the teams perspective, the J has hired the team to perform some standard wetwork, one member already on sight performing early recon.

The Meet

The team meet their mysterious fixer, working for Spartak Nalvani, but the connection is unknown. The meet occurred at a local matrix bar. The J a “generic” looking suit guy. The job, described mostly as a standard assassination. Hit the target and get out. The pay 50k per runner or access to a betaware clinic with a credit for some ware. The team was in agreement and accepted the job.

The Plan

Following the meet the team performed some early research into the target and the free city of Constantinople. Some of the team caught a private jet to the region while Nu11st@ck and Eidolon took their Zeppelins with Nu11’s roadmaster hooked between the two of them. Nu11st@ck put in a call to one of his contacts and negotiated accosted travel across the US jurisdictions during the flight. Eidolon put in a call to setup a meet with some local terrorists, the Sons of Sauron (SoS) once they arrive in person. Eidolon thought that they might provide strategic advantages for their assassination mission by creating distractions or similar disruptions. To pursue this potential alliance, Eidolon and Nearl attended a meeting with a SoS member named Aziz.

Aziz may be the leader of the SoS cell in Constantinople and is wanted by the Counsel Polis for terrorism, with a bounty of 60,000 credits on his head. He is wanted alive to be used as a public example. Aziz is responsible for minor acts of terrorism in Constantinople and Eastern Europe. He is a devout Muslim, advocates for troll rights, and likely harbors a dismissive attitude towards women. It is advised not to speak disparagingly about religion in his presence. Despite these traits, Aziz is generally amicable to those who support the cause.

On their way to meet Aziz, Nearl and Eidolon discussed the current state of humanity and the world's decline. During this conversation, Nearl revealed his grand but distorted ideals about the world's future.

The team was provided with a passphrase, which Eidolon delivered without much consideration. The professional runners from the Sons of Sauron, who had chosen to hide in plain sight by operating a rug store, responded with exasperation. They escorted Eidolon and Nearl deeper into the premises.

Before proceeding further, Nearl engaged in a brief conversation about purchasing a rug, ultimately spending 4,000 nuyen. With the purchase concluded, Nearl and Eidolon were led further inside to discuss their plans with the SoS team.

The team of runners convened to discuss various strategies for assassinating the council member, Yavuz Balci, and to identify potential challenges they might face.

Details about the Assassination:

• The target is always accompanied by a mage who controls four guardian spirits using Small unit tactics to assist in combat.
• The target is equipped with a full delta suite and skillwires, making him a highly skilled fighter if necessary. He also uses an R7 Fairlight Caliban commlink.
• The council chamber itself is heavily fortified and considered a death trap, thus the team agreed to avoid it. The building is surrounded by an F9 ward, and while there are hundreds of cameras, there are no turrets. The facility is equipped with numerous sensor pads, RCCs, and other security measures that do not damage the stonework.
• The target's security team consists of 15 guards.

While at the meet Nu11stack conducted some detailed matrix legwork of the target. He investigated the industrial host connected to the palance, his private residence, and social media accounts. This provided the team some intel on the day to day schedules of the Balci and his staff along with likely travel routes to and from his house and potential locations to strike.

The team brainstormed potential methods for assassinating the council member, Yavuz Balci, and considered various challenges and opportunities.

One idea was to infiltrate the council's host system and forge a pass to gain access during council hours. This plan involved identifying key locations on a map where a sniper could take a shot at the target. This approach would require an exceptionally skilled sniper and would involve drilling a hole and opening a window to create a clear line of sight.

They also considered a frontal assault on the target's house but recognized the high risk involved. However, there was a possibility of exploiting the target's rumored aquatic escape route if they could force him to flee his estate.

Aziz suggested another approach: having a runner impersonate a maid. This plan involved infiltrating the target's residence through the maid service and potentially planting explosives. The team was skeptical about Cleaner Cleaner's ability to carry out this infiltration alone, so they decided to gather more intelligence and perform additional legwork before finalizing their plan.

The next day, Nearl and Nu11st@ck established a Dream Matrix den as a base of operations. Nu11st@ck began the process of searching the target's commlink for useful information. After hacking the commlink Nu11 learned that this was not a device owned by Balci, but instead his personal secretary or security officer.

At first glance, the commlink appeared to be devoid of any valuable data. However, further investigation revealed several key pieces of information: Jamsheed is identified as the security officer of the Council Polis. Kadir Maroun is noted as the primary point of contact for Yavuz Balci and has a known affinity for novacoke.

Given this information, the team considered the possibility of leveraging Kadir Maroun's addiction to novacoke to extract valuable intelligence on how to effectively eliminate Yavuz Balci.

Nu11st@ck then delved deeper into Kadir Maroun's contacts. Among them, he identified Konstantin Simonich of the Red Vory, who was scheduled to arrive from Russia in a week. Konstantin worked directly for Andrei Petschukov. Cleaner Cleaner expressed a desire to kill Konstantin, but Nu11st@ck decided to save this information for later.

Continuing his search, Nu11st@ck reviewed other messages on the commlink. Despite triggering a data bomb, he persevered and continued to extract valuable data.

The team discovered that the council member, Yavuz Balci, was scheduled to meet with a Red Vory member. Cleaner Cleaner immediately expressed a strong desire to eliminate the Vory member under any circumstances. Recognizing this as a unique opportunity, the team considered the possibility of simultaneously taking out both the council member and the Vory second-in-command during their meeting. This alignment of objectives presented a potentially advantageous scenario for the team's mission.

The team identified the boat as a promising location to neutralize both the Vory leader and the council member. Understanding the logistical challenges of such an operation, they reached out to Ivan Petrov for assistance in executing simultaneous eliminations via shooting through solid targets like walls and barriers.

Ivan Petrov suggested employing a submarine for this purpose, indicating a potential method to execute the operation effectively and discreetly

Cleaner Cleaner initiated contact with her White Vory contacts to negotiate a deal for support in eliminating the council member and kidnapping the Vory member during their meeting. Meanwhile, Nearl informed Spartak of their plan, aiming to secure temporary backing from the Polis and the Gray Wolves to clear the way for their operation that evening. Simultaneously, Nearl reached out to Ivan Kolchev to arrange for a submarine and Non-Vory Russian PMC troops to be stationed on the docks. These troops were intended to assist the team during the assassination mission. With the pieces falling into place, the team gathered together to finalize their assault plan and exchanged words of encouragement, wishing each other luck as they prepared for the crucial operation ahead. The team made their strategy for the operation: Cleaner Cleaner and Nu11st@ck would approach the boat in Nu11st@ck's submersible roadmaster. Cleaner Cleaner, equipped with a sealed arctic suit, would infiltrate the boat while Nu11st@ck managed the hacking operations from their vehicle. Nu11st@ck's goal was to establish control over the boat's systems through a direct connection that Cleaner Cleaner would establish via an arrowlink. Cleaner Cleaner would be accompanied by Nearl’s necromancy spirits, being given instructions to protect CC and follow her orders. Meanwhile, Eidolon and Nearl, accompanied by Nearl's ally spirit, would use Ivan Kolchev's submersible truck to approach the target area stealthily. Their objective was to provide sniper support from a safe distance, ensuring a pincer attack on the targets late at night. Unknown to Nearl and Cleaner Cleaner, each had independently hired additional personnel to be stationed on the docks. These hired goons held conflicting interests and affiliations, potentially leading to unforeseen complications or even conflict among the hired help. With the plan in place and roles assigned, the team prepared to execute their operation under cover of darkness, aiming to achieve their objectives swiftly and efficiently.

The Run

Cleaner Cleaner and Nu11st@ck approached the boat stealthily in Nu11st@ck's submersible. Once positioned beneath the boat, Cleaner Cleaner donned her scuba gear and ascended to the hull's underside. Her mission was to plant an 'arrow link,' a direct connection point, for Nu11st@ck to initiate hostile hacking and take control of the boat's systems.

Once connected Nu11st@ck discovered the boat was under the control of a likely technomancer who was jumped into it. He began to gather marks and get prepared to remove the blockage to control the ship. While attempting to hack the biomonitor attached to the hostile techno and alarm was triggered and the plan changed some. Nu11 began to data spike the techno and obliterate their brain while CC boarded the ship and began her assault. With the techno removed, Nu11st@ck gained access to the boat's network and began overriding its controls. He successfully opened hatches, allowing Cleaner Cleaner access to the boat and began locating the targets via internal camera feeds.

Nearl's Palefire and Corpse spirits remained vigilant as Cleaner Cleaner entered the underwater hatch of the boat, tasked with ensuring her safety. Two hostile water spirits approached, sensing the intrusion. Acting swiftly on Nearl's command to protect Cleaner Cleaner at all costs, the Palefire and Corpse spirits engaged the adversaries in astral combat. The necro spirits quickly dispatched the interlopers and helped CC onto the boat.

However, the success in the astral realm was countered by an unforeseen development in the physical world. The death of the boat's rigger alerted the opposing forces (OpFor) to the team's presence. This discovery compromised Cleaner Cleaner's position aboard the vessel, escalating the stakes of the operation as the team faced imminent engagement from the enemy.

As Cleaner Cleaner swiftly prepared her weapon, anticipating imminent conflict, the Vory and council forces launched their assault on the lower deck of the boat. The sudden invasion caught Cleaner Cleaner off guard, forcing her to defend herself against the advancing enemies while still advancing towards the target. Meanwhile, Eidolon and Nearl engaged in a coordinated attack from their vantage point, employing a combination of magical spells and gunfire. Their aim was to disrupt enemy movements and provide cover fire for Cleaner Cleaner. Eidolon's first target, the Balci limo. A single well placed shot demolished the vehicle's battery casing, causing a massive explosion. Nu11st@ck, stationed to provide support and maintain control over the boat's systems, redirected efforts to fend off incoming enemies, attempting to create a protective barrier around Cleaner Cleaner and mitigate the advancing threats. Additionally while rigged into the boat he started up the engines and began to drift the vessel out to sea, cutting off the docks as a possible escape route. However, the situation escalated further as enemy mages positioned themselves atop the yacht. They unleashed potent spells, hurling explosive thunderballs and fireballs towards Eidolon and Nearl. The onslaught posed a significant challenge, threatening to overwhelm the team's defensive positions and disrupt their coordinated assault. This attack resulted in Ivan’s sub sinking with him unconscious inside of it. Eidolon began trending water and continued to fire at the targets one handed while Nearl and his ally spirit began the slow swim to shore while assisting with continued magical attacks.

As the conflict intensified, Cleaner Cleaner found herself trapped within the bowels of the ship's interior, navigating through the chaos as Ivan Kolchev's truck was destroyed in the escalating battle. Despite the setbacks, Eidolon continued to demonstrate his marksmanship prowess, relentlessly firing upon enemy forces aboard the boat with remarkable accuracy and effectiveness. Inside the boat, Nu11st@ck utilized their expertise to manipulate the controls, effectively impeding the advance of enemy combatants and creating crucial opportunities for the team. Amidst the turmoil, Cleaner Cleaner made a decisive move by commanding her Necro spirits to bestow their powers upon her. Empowered by their combined forces, Cleaner Cleaner broke free from confinement and emerged onto the deck of the boat as the targets began to access their escape helicopter. Eidolon's continued fire managed to penetrate several physical barriers protecting the helicopter and disabled it. The two targets took shelter within the armored husk of the vehicle as Nu11stack surfaced and began to volley grenades inside of it. Witnessing the fleeing council member and the Vory leader, Cleaner Cleaner unleashed a surge of anger that amplified her combat abilities to an extraordinary level. With near godly accuracy, she swiftly dispatched five combatants in a single barrage of gunfire. Demonstrating unparalleled skill and determination. She cleared the hostile mages from the field and confirmed the targets death with a close range double tap. She then reached a discouraging conclusion that her Vory target had also perished and would not be able to be captured. The display of ferocity and skill struck fear into the hearts of the remaining OpFor, causing them to abandon ship in a desperate bid to escape the relentless onslaught unleashed by Cleaner Cleaner. As combat began to cool, Eidolon realized the slowly sinking vessel containing Ivan was still within reach. He deftly targeted the friendly terrorist and latched onto him with a grappling gun, pulling him to relative safety. Cleaner and the spirits reboarded Nu11’s sub and Nu11 deftly piloted past the AAA security net to pick up the rest of the team, on the way out toeing Ivans vehicle back to shore.

Aftermath

On Nearl’s recommendation, Cleaner removed the Vory leader’s corpse from the field with hopes that Nearl might be able to raise them long enough to get some intel. Unfortunately, neither runners contact was interested in the remains. The team set them ablaze and ensured it would not be located.

Nearl contacted Nalvandian while the rest of the team contacted their “J” to arrange payment details, both received a very concise set of coordinates and a statement to come as a team. Everything about how this was to be handled seemed suspicious and they sent in a flyspy to count the location prior to the meeting.

The waters around the island were teeming with military presence and the island itself loaded with security. Knowing full well this was a trap, Nearl sent in his corpse spirit disguised as a normal person, with a commlink. Retrieving the pay and the person meant to be extracted almost went without hitch, but on the way home it turns out that they had been sold out, leading to high bounties and a wanted status in Constantinople.

Each member furious with Nalvandian, connected with all of their contacts and spread the word that he was not to be trusted, and no runners should accept jobs working with him or the Grey Wolves again.

During this time, Nearl secretly contact Fire Mage, chewing him out for not giving Nearl more help during his career so far. Fire Mage, perhaps angry at Nearl for speaking out of line, promised to keep a much closer eye on their activities.

With the job complete, but now licking the wounds to their ego, the team used Nu11st@cks's blimp to return to land, finding their "J"s willing and helpful to return them to Seattle. Nearl once again contacted Fire Mage, and Fire Mage agreed that the efforts and affect of what he accomplished would not go un-noticed. Mlynarz had invested much into Nearl, and would not the investments the lodge had made go to waste so soon.

Rewards

21.5 Hours - Multiple sessions. [108 RVP] Cap

[25 RVP] 50k Nuyen or twice that in betware 24F or under

[5 RVP] 5 Karma - Nearl gets 30 Karma (30RVP)

2 CDP

78 RVP in additional rewards distributed as CDP, Karma, Nuyen, ware(gear rate) or optional rewards as player sees fit.

Optional qualities to buy at chargen.

• For Nullstack: Subtle Pilot/Go Big or Go Home
• For Eidolon: Water Sprite/ Will to live/Linguistics/Speed Reader/Toughness

Players managed to save Ivan Kolchev. May buy him at 6/3 - [8 RVP]

Negatives: Every runner gets 100k Bounty - Constantinople

• -30 Rep with the Gray Wolves

• -30 Rep with the Red Vory

• +30 Rep With Sons of Sauron

Game Quotes

Amusing quote from game.

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Nu11st@ck - "I can't believe this. That two timing drek stain. I'll make sure they never get paid from another runner again. You pay w crew you don't turn on um that's the rules. Atleast we got a nice bonus and took out that vory, though I fear some of the possibilities that level of destination might bring."

Nearl

"To the current of life we succumb, its judgment swift and final. Its bite as cold as steel... The hearts of men are black with corruption and must needs be cleansed... Worms struggle to cross what beds of muck we make, yet at the end of the broken path lies death, and death alone. Together he and I call out to the skies and tremble as the brilliance of a thousand bolts blinds our enemies and tears their flesh asunder. They who dwell aloft have spoken, let their words echo in your empty soul: Ruination is come."