Kicking an Anthill
| Kicking an Anthill | |||||||||
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| Factions Involved | |||||||||
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ShadowHaven A Shadowy UCAS Government Agency. | Bugs | ||||||||
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Mister Morty Rabbit Relay Shine Zenith |
Ant Queen Bugs Bug Decker | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Ant Queen. Multiple Bugs | |||||||||
Summary
The Runners are hired by a Shadowy Government Agency to assault an Ant Bug Spirit Hive based out of a Laser Weapons Research facility in Snowhomish. Their specific target is an Ant Queen.
Background
Rumours of Bugs in Snowhomish have been ripening on Shadowhaven for some time. Yet when the runner's are contacted by their fixers Sarah Snow and Alessa P about a job for some "Men in Black", none of them are entirely prepared for the big reveal concerning their target.
The Meet
The Runner's arrive for the meet, with Zenith providing overwatch over the meet location. Eyebrows are somewhat raised when three identical black SUVs with a single occupant each pull into the lot and demand to know the location of "number 5". Zenith puts away his rifle and zip-lines down to join the others. The team react to the instruction to don a blindfold and enter the vehicles with various degrees of suspicion, though all do. Relay's attempt to monitor their route using his drones is anticipated however, and countermeasures are deployed by the agents with the sort of professional calm that suggests they'd have felt insulted if Relay hadn't at least made the attempt.
The convoy pulls into an underground garage, and are escorted upstairs (some by means of the elevator, others taking the stairs) to a conference room near the top of the building. While some of them are thoroughly enjoying their brief glimpse into the world of espionage, all smiles falter when the woman who introduces herself as their Johnson reveals that their target is a bug hive.
The terms are generous, but the runners negotiated an up-front payment-in-kind to equip them for the task ahead. Suitably provisioned from their sponsor's armoury and stores, the Runner's gain some information as to the nature of their target in the form of satellite imagery and basic intelligence concerning the numbers and nature of the opposition. After being assured that any fleeing bugs would be detected and destroyed by their sponsor's cordon, the runner's retreat to Relay's bat-cave for planning and prep.
The Plan
While Rabbit and Mister Morty set about data-gathering information on the location and the surrounding sewer and utility tunnels, Relay, Shine and Zenith debate the merits of an above ground insertion versus an infiltration from below using the sewer tunnels. When Relay observes that the degree of noise underground would force himself and Mister Morty to follow at a close distance, but likely out of line of sight of the rest of the team, it's agreed that a traditional top-down Close Quarters Battle approach would be best.
After Rabbit and Morty finish their legwork, the team finish prepping their armour, weapons and drones, and retire for the evening.
The Run
The Runner's take the "hit hard and hit fast" approach, driving right up to the front door of the target building and leaping out of Relay's truck in full view of two guards. While Zenith shoots out the armour glass windows, the other's mow down the two guards. Rabbit steps inside, and is almost geeked when the grenades on the guard's belts begin to whine. Thinking fast, the runner scoops up both grenades and throws them deeper into the building, but it's clear the bugs have a Hacker. Relay and Morty go to work, and in the process of bricking the hackers deck, they locate a prototype orbital laser in the third sub-basement and brick that too. Just to be safe.
Rabbit, Shine and Zenith fail to coordinate their Breach of the doors beyond the lobby, and are subjected to an onslaught of laser fire and paint grenades. Yes. Actual lasers. It's Zenith's turn to throw back a grenade, but he exposes himself in the process to a furious fusillade of las fire and is hauled back into the lobby by Shine. While Rabbit assaults right with mono-whip in hand, Shine, Relay and Zenith shoot left. But despite suppressing fire one of the guards makes it to the lobby and throws a paint grenade. Zenith, in chem-sealed full body armour, throws himself atop the grenade in an unexpected display of heroism and is only saved in turn by yet another act of heroism when relay flies a drone straight at the guard to intercept the point blank shot that would have shredded Zenith. In moments, another 6 guards are down and the runners have yet to take any actual injuries.
While Morty hacks the lobby terminal and takes over the security cams, locates two ambushes on the sub-levels below, disables the turrets, -and- locates the Queen's nest, the other's plan on sending a few grenades down the stairwell and elevator shafts. However, it's clear they're not the only ones with that idea when the elevator "bings" open and a frag grenade shakes the corridors.
Knowing that fighting down three floors against prepared positions and in the presence of background count is unlikely to work in their favour, the runners elect to blast their way down through the floors with a series of shaped charges, dropping them in right on top of the Queen's position. While Relay's drone and the team's shooters descend to the third sub-basement to confront the Queen, Relay and Morty remain above to provide overwatch and coordination. In yet another feat of heroism, Zenith fires a Blight round straight down the Queen's throat while it tries to take a bite out of him. In the following seconds, a planar gate opens above them and begins to deposit yet more bug spirits into the Sixth World. The fearful aura of the Queen bug and it's brood proves too much for Zenith, who turns and flees, but in that very next moment Rabbit's monowhip severs the Queen's head from it's thorax, throwing it's brood into confusion and disarray. Seizing their moment, the three shooters, all adepts, cling to Rabbit's grapple and ascend to safety like a scene from an old flatscreen movie poster, while disembodied ant spirits swirl and howl all around them.
There's yet more tension when the team realise the building is surrounded by heavily armed agents while they exfil, but Relay makes it clear they are the runner-team before any of them step out and into the sunlight. The Agents, clearly surprised to find the runner's alive, move to secure the building while the Johnson lines them all up and offers her congratulations. Rabbit spots the Johnson assensing each of them to ensure they're not possessed, and decides to return the favour -and immediately regrets it. The runner stares at something altogether unnerving that's staring back, and feels their pulse skyrocket.
Shine, detecting a sharp spike in pulse, heart rate, and resps from Rabbit expresses concern, but Rabbit shrugs her off. Rabbit has a secret now. A deadly one. And not one they're feeling ready to share.
Aftermath
The team claim their rewards in nuyen or gear as they desire. That night, in her dreams, Shine is visited by an insectile presence. One that avows hatred for the Bug Spirits plaguing the Sixth World. In the darkness of the pre-dawn, a deal is formed. A pact between the like-minded, and though Shine ever-after feels unease concerning her choice, she can't deny the benefits of accepting her mentor's power.
Rewards
80k nuyen of ANY gear or 'ware up to availability 18 or 40k nuyen (higher than 18 roll as normal through a contact) 20 karma 2 CDP Magic characters who get Deltaware here lose 15 RVP from this run. Magic characters without it can buy Mentor Spirit at chargen price Relay can buy Special Modifications 1 at chargen price Master Morty can buy I C U at chargen price