The Solvay Effect

The Solvay Effect
Date 2085-04-19 GM John Location Redmond, Seattle Status Threat Level: Milk Run
Factions Involved
ShadowHaven	Major Corp
Daisy Mittens Hawk Red Ribbon	Some poor Barrens gangers John Traffic, milquetoast cop

Summary

The rigging trio gathers for an unofficial competition -- finding the best damn driver in Seattle (well, at least among the three of them).

Background

The main impetus to this was the icy relationship and outright call-out from Hawk to Red Ribbon on the BBS. Hawk is in the relatively 'traditionalist' camp of more physical drivers, and critical of the apparently dishonest more digital methods. This results in some traded insults and braggadocio, eventually culminating in a rivalry, and eventually this race.

The Meet

The trio meets up in an old parking lot on the outskirts of Redmond. A pair of wageslaves are immediately expelled as Ribbon's massive Mack Hellhound arrives. The lot cleared, she is free to pose (quite coolly, in her eyes) with her truck. Hawk arrives and the pair trades an icy glare through her windows. The banter is short but direct, tension obvious in the air. Daisy's arrival offers a brief reprieve, with a much more laid-back, almost blasé demeanor.

The Plan

The race is planned to head out historic Route 202, the highway that heads over the rougher parts of Redmond, and out of Seattle eventually. Taking the 202 out a ways to Redmond's edge, before a breakneck turnaround and return back towards Seattle. The stakes are simple; bragging rights & drinks on the losers.

The Run

The race is tight from the start, each driver speeding forward to get up to speed. Daisy's Shin-Hyueng is ready to demonstrate it's superior speed and acceleration, but the others do not give in easy. Ribbon's Hellhound is modded out to be surprisingly fast, and while Hawk's Armadillo is not working with as much raw speed, she holds on for a time with pure skill and willpower. Eventually, Daisy and Ribbon do pull ahead, with Hawk only holding on with the clever use of daring stunts and creative tactics. After a bit of scraping and jostling for position, Daisy pulls ahead, and despite their best efforts, the other two ultimately can't keep up. Going into the U-turn section, the order is Daisy, then Ribbon, then Hawk. In the U-turn, the runners blitz by a poor grouping of go-gangers, easily avoiding their pitiful ire. On the return leg, the mental component comes to the fore, Hawk's brazen advances taking both her opponents off their best game. Daisy in particular is entirely smitten, or perhaps was all along. She begins colluding with Hawk openly, providing her as much assistance as possible, to some good affect. The final leg is competitive, between Hawk and Ribbon. Ultimately, the issue is primarily Hawk's vehicle, having lost some of her better equipment in tough runs, and hitting the physical limits of the vehicle. Ribbon does win, though it is plain to see the skill demonstrated by her opponents. The team arrives spent and frazzled, but in perhaps better spirits.

Aftermath

In the quiet gloomy side-street, the trio trades respectful commendations, or in Daisy's case, poorly masked white lies. The group retires amidst flirty banter and shared drinks, with bragging rights and perhaps more intimate details shared in a fairly pleasant simmering down of the once boiling hot tensions.

Rewards

5 RVP

- 5 karma (may take Steely Eyed Wheelman / 2 RVP, Speed Demon / 3 RVP or Chaser / 4 RVP as desired)

- 2 CDP (base)

Game Quotes

Amusing quote from game.