Or'zet! An opera in three acts: setup

Or'zet! An opera in three acts: setup
Part of All The World's a Stage
Top Hats humiliated by the Mad Hatters, walking down the street, flapping their arms like chickens, while the runners sit back, munch burritos and laugh.
Date 2085-07-21 GM Villiers Location Seattle Status Threat Level: Medium
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Mad Hatters	Top Hats
Funk Glitch Thunder Trades	5	5
Casualties and losses
		Humiliation

Summary

Francesco di Gangi has a plan. He wants to sabotage his sister's move from Redmond. He wants the opera project to switch focus so that someone other than Maria is a better fit. A political satire is just the thing. Nobody is allowed to know who's behind the plot. If Maria finds out her brother sabotaged a job there will be hell to pay. He can't use Finnigan resources so he hires runners to do the staffing for them. The runners do a good job and complete the first step of Francesco's plans without knowing what the plan is, nor why.

Background

Francesco di Gangi dotes on his sister Maria. When he learned that she is planning to leave her job in Redmond and move to the Ork Underground project he becomes alarmed. Francesco wants her to stay in Redmond; the theatre director, Naomi Fisk, looks to be moving on in the near future. Maria would be next in line to be promoted. Francesco comes up with a plan to sabotage his sister. It's best for her. An opera buff, Francesco knows that Maria would be perfect for traditional opera seria but not a ballad opera. The Or'zet! opera was originally planned as a classical opera in italian language to educate the underground population in culture. Francesco realizes that, with the right cast and finesse, this is an opportunity to inspire political activism which will help them reach their goals in establishing a new amateur theatre society. So, he decides to change the whole concept and make the opera about content instead of format. For this purpose, they need the opera to be understandable and rousing to the spectators. Re-cast the core staff and influence the development of the project to become a successful socio-critical piece that well might become the spark for the desired enthusiasm in the Ork Underground. And more importantly it keeps his sister close by.

The Meet

The runners meet with Johnson in the matrix. He doesn't want to be identified. Johnson wants Bat'Wejoto, Penelope Hopkins, and Naomi Fisk, to work together on the opera Or'zet! and make it a successful modern political masterpiece. He hires the runners to convince the tree to work together on the project and offers them 10 000 Nuyen.

During the meet, the runners figure out that Johnson is Francesco di Gangi, a Finnigan caporegime. While they keep their poker faces about their knowledge of Johnsons true identity, they negotiate for the opportunity to take payment in kind with the hopes of fenced gear at an opportunistic price. Johnson agrees.

The Runners receive the necessary information about the targets and two files with information about the opera and a police investigation into the assult on Penolpe Hopkins before Johnson "logs out".

The Plan

The runners plan to visit the targets ony by one to find out what they need and convince them that joining the opera and working towards the new specs is a great idea.

The Run

The first stop is with Bat'Wejoto in the Ork underground. Before they meet her, the runners do some matrix leg work and find out that she's about to rent a new office, which is owned by the Monreau-Family, for the Ork Underground Theatrical Society, OUTS. They contact Carleton Moreau and negotiate 6 months of free occupancy for OUTS. During the meet, they find out that Bat'Wejoto wants to dig a new theatre, and that she is concerned about her friend Maria not getting the promised role under the new concept of the opera.
The Runners appeal to Bat'Wejotos sense of equal opportunity for oppressed, that equal opportunity has to work both ways and that Bat'Wejoto cannot discriminate against Penelope Hopkins, just because Penelope comes from a rich family. Bat'Wejoto agrees to the deal. To sweeten the deal, the runners offer the 6 months free rent of the office space negotiated with the Moreau's, to supply her with an electrician to for free to do the electrical work in the new office, and to provide a strong spirit of earth to explore the surroundings for an undiscovered / unexploited lava cave which would suit the needs of the theatrical society.
Bat'Wejoto is thrilled.

The second stop is with Naomi Fisk, whom they meet in Redmond, in the Zephyr-South Multi-Use building, where Naomi / Redmond Amateur Theatrical Society has an office.
Naomi is harder to convince. She's all about teaching the lower class people in the lower levels of Seattle high-class culture in the hopes of elevating them by singing classical opera in a foreign language.
Naomi and the runners argue in a very professional, yet duel like manner about what is right. High culture without enablement, or "lower" culture at more par with the eye-level of the audience to influence change? With market research and predictions from the matrix, Naomi gives in.
After watching a magicians duel between Mad Hats and Top Hats, eating burritos, and witnessing the humiliation of the Top Hats by the Mad Hats, the mood is at peak heights. Naomi and the runners sincerely whish each other to "break a leg" with best faith and kindest intentions.

The third meet is with Penelope Hopkins. The runners don't really know what makes her boat rock, so the outcome a very uncertain as they enter the high-security high-society mansion of Penelope (The body-guard of the team stays in the Van, ready for heavy action, in case anything goes down, knowing that the house security wouldn't allow him inside with his heavy hardware.
The Face and the group is well warmed-up from the previous negotiations and the Face quickly figures out a strategy and hooks Penolpe on the idea of accepting the job.

Aftermath

All threee targets have been secured. The runners get paid in cash or kind. Mr. Johnson is very happy and triggers phase II of his plan - Convince Naomi to pursue professional opportunities...opportunities that will create a vacancy for Maria to fill.
............To Be Continued............

Rewards

Medium TL 13 RVP

10,000 Nuyen or 20,000 Nuyen of gear <= availability 16

[vehicles, drones, electronics, weapons, drugs, reagents] (5 RVP)

8 Karma (8 RVP)

2 CDP (base)

Optional:

Glitch - Inspired @ chargen rate, Naomi Fisk L1-->L2 (1 RVP)

Trades - Perfect time @ chargen rate

Funk - Trustworthy @ chargen rate

Game Quotes

Amusing quote from game.

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Thunder We helped change the plans of the Or'zet! opera from a stuck-up stiff piece in a foreign language to what will become an interesting performance which will speak to the hearts of the people. Maybe this opera will be the spark that will will unite people to stand up for their rights and to unite to build a prosperous future for all. Proud to have been of service and hopefull for the future.

Trades I'm glad that I've been able to help get the people together for a theatrical production for the ork underground. It'll be interesting to see how their own retelling of the story will change it, and what sort of impact it'll have on their pop culture.