Ace Powers Commits Tax Fraud

Ace Powers Commits Tax Fraud
Date 2082-MM-DD"2082-MM-DD" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation. GM Location {{{place}}}
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Major Corp
Runner1 Runner2 Runner3 Runner4	Character1 Character2

Summary

The Runners are brought together by Ace Powers to assist him in concealing his illicit tax-related activities from the authorities. Much as many of the more seasoned runners expected, it was a classic moment of Ace Powers needing to conceal his white-collar crimes from 'The Man'.

Background

Ace Powers is no stranger to the business of tax fraud. A man in his position has to do what has to be done to come out ahead. After all, sometimes the art of the deal requires utilising methods that are less than... legal. Unfortunately, UCAS didn't see things the same way. As such, their federal agents quickly found their feet upon the ground, looking into any potential documentation of the illicit activities of Ace Powers within the Charisma Associates branch of Horizon.

The Meet

The Runners are contacted by their fixers and given an address within downtown Seattle. Upon arrival, they discover that the financially endowed Ace Powers has elected to meet them in... an alleyway. This alleyway, looking over the Charisma Associates branch of Horizon, serves as the base point for the rather energetic briefing the runners receive.

Supposedly, Ace Powers finds himself in a bit of a pickle. A group of inspectors, federal agents sent on the behalf of UCAS, are looking into his business dealings. Specifically, they have a vested interest in his tax payments. Unfortunately for Ace, he doesn't exactly pay his fair share. This would typically be no issue, something false books can easily handle. As it turns out, however, Ace's books are yet to be fully 'cooked'. As such, he requires the Runners to infiltrate the Charisma Associates branch and purge it of a particular server, one that contains information that would be best kept out of UCAS's hands. In short, he requires assistance committing tax fraud.

An original offer of 16,000 nuyen each is made to the runners. Almost immediately, they lift the price to 20,000. However, this additional payment comes with a clause: no one is to be killed, at least as far as employees and contractors go. The agents are fair game, so long as it doesn't spill back on Ace. The Runners, motivated by the potential of a quick payday, agree without delay. After all, the federal agents arrived while they were haggling...

The Plan

In truth, the Runners had little time to formulate a concrete plan. As such, their impromptu plan was to rely on their strengths. Jennifer McCallister a potent Technomancer, wasted no time in declaring that she would quickly seize control of the host and overwhelm any Spider daring to defend it. To facilitate this, she gained access to the limo of Ace Powers, giving herself a place to enter the matrix in relative safety.

Cold Hands, on the other hand, would infiltrate the building. Moving into position to stealthily gain access to the branch, she departed from the group, readying her gear and talents for whatever came next.

Of course, all of this would be for naught if the federal agents beat the Runners to the server room they would need to gain access to. To ensure this would not happen, Maestro and Envy would utilise the art of deception, distracting the agents through the use of their wit and Maestro's magical talents.

Aftermath

With the job having been completed with minimal fuss, the Runners quickly made themselves scarce. Cold Hands, having remained completely unseen thanks to the efforts of Jennifer McCallister, elected to leave the way she came, slipping into the shadows.

Jennifer McCallister, on the other, merely exited the matrix, emerging within the comfortable confines of Ace's luxurious limousine. The spider who she had thoroughly beaten was undoubtedly not going to wake from their time in the matrix in a manner quite as pleasant.

Finally, Maestro and Envy leisurely left the agents behind. After a brief bout of lies and a refusal to hold the elevator for the bewildered agents, the two merely waltzed right out the front door. Maestro, wishing to leave his mark, offered the receptionist his soon-to-be-famous calling card, the Joker of Trebles.

Eventually, the Runners meet up with Ace Powers in the alleyway once again, informing him the job is done. Ace, pleased with the rapid competition of Run, quickly pays them their 20,000 nuyen. Afterwards, he departs in his luxurious limousine, leaving the Runners in the alleyway to enjoy the spoils of 'Working for the Man'.

Rewards

• 20k nuyen

Game Quotes

"Let's be honest, it's Ace Powers. There are white-collar crimes all over every file in there." - Cold Hands

Player After Action Reports (AARs)

Maestro

"I must admit, it was rather simple all things considered. I walked in, utilised my mastery of the mystic arts, then left behind a bewildered band of bumbling baboons. The agents were clearly not up to my standards, but that's no surprise. At least the receptionist had the wit to recognise the extreme value of my calling card."