This old and beautiful museum has been around almost since Athen's was first terraformed.  It is the home of many Earth that Was ancient artifacts.  This four story building is located in the center of Paratel, one of Athen's more prominent cities.

[From Destiny: Cargo Bay]

Kale's eyes surveyed the entire area as they approached the museum.  They looked a bit out of place ... the 'nice' part of Paratel reminded him a bit too much of Osiris, and those weren't really memories he was looking on recalling at the moment.  He looked back at the group, "Everyone got their cards on them?" he asked, making sure he had his fake ident card accessible, then he glanced down at his watch.  5:40.  The museum closed at 6 they had 20 minutes to get in and hidden.  "We should probably split up when we enter - an' try ta look natural, ya know, like museum goers." he commented, "Connor an' I will go first - you see us get in then follow up a few minutes later with Wei." he said to Geoff.

(From Destiny: Cargo Bay)

Connor nodded and pulled out his clearance pass. Then he looked at them and handed them each a disruptor.
"Don't set them off till you need to...they don't have a long charge." he turned to Kale. "Ready when you are..."

<from Destiny:Cargo Bay>

Geoff nodded as he patted the pocket his fake ident card was in and gave the captain a loose salute. "Yeah, got it, Cap'n. I'm all set. Jus' gotta go in and act natural and such, right? That won't be hard. I mean, look at me. Don't I just look like the sorta fella that goes ta museums ta soak up knowledge and culture and such? I think I do.", he remarked as he took the disruptor that Connor gave him and shoved it in his other pocket.

Kale eyed Geoff for a moment as he spoke, "Just ... don't go hittin' anyone or well ... bein' yerself.  Act like ... like Kyoko.  Ya know, dignified an' stuff." Kale said, then motioned for Connor to come with him and approached the entrance to the museum.  There was a metal detector and two men standing on either side checking ident cards and running the detector.

There was no line since it was so late and the museum would be closing soon.  Kale stepped up first, passing through the metal detector unhindered.  The man on the other side held up a hand then,

"Indetification card, Sir." he said.

Kale pulled the card out of his pocket and handed it over.  The man looked at it and slid it through some machine that made note that Mr. Norman Talinor had entered the museum.

"Thank you Mr. Talinor, enjoy your visit." he said and Kale let out a sigh of relief as he stepped away from them, waiting for Connor to follow him through.

Geoff made a soft scoffing noise as the captain told him to act dignified and like Kyoko. "Yeah, sure. I'll act like Kyoko. That mean I should give Wei-Li a quick roll in the hay fer a coupla creds? Hmmph.", he muttered as he stood back and waited to see if everything went all right for Connor and the captain.

Connor flashed his identicard at the guard who immediately let him through. He grinned, working at the crime scene had some advantages...he walked up to Kale and put his arm on the captain's shoulder, pretending to be giving him a tour of the place. He leaned forward and whispered to Kale.
"I apologize for this captain..." Then,he removed the hand and launched into a boring diatribe about various pieces of art, all the while walking forward away from the security station...

"Hey!" a voice called out from behind Kale and Connor, "Hey you two!" Kale tried to just keep walking at first, not wanting to draw attention to himself, then the guard called out again.

Kale froze in his tracks for a moment and cast a look at Connor as he rambled on about what paintings they would see.  Then swallowing hard he turned around.  What had they found out?  Did they know the cards were a fake?  Had they detected the dampner? a million thoughts raced through his mind.  But he tried to turn around as nonchalantly as possible.  First he looked over his shoulder as though looking for someone else that the guards might me talking to, then pointing at himself with a surprised and questioning look.

"Um, is there a problem, Sir." he asked in what he hoped was a completely easy going tone.

The guard looked at him sternly for a moment and Kale's heart sank, They know ... he thought.  Then the guard nodded his head in the direction of the clock on the wall, "Keep it quick gentleman, museum closes in twenty minutes." he said.

Kale let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, "'Course, we'll be in an' out, just had ta fit one more museum in.  Ya know, takin' in the sights an' all."

The guard smiled and nodded, "Well, this is one of Paratel's finest, shame ya don't have more time."

"That it is." Kale said, "But ya do what ya can.  You, uh, take care." he said, and then spun around with Connor in tow.  Moving quickly away from the door.

"Now why don' ya tell me some more 'bout these here paintin's" Kale said.

Connor took a deep breath in and out...relief coursing through him...that could have been alot worse than it was.
"Why yes, of course Mr. Talinor, I'd be delighted to..." Connor led Kale further away and continued on, walking towards their destination...
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:41, Mon 24 July 2006.

They didn't get very far, just out of eyesight of the guards, before Kale faked an interest in some statue of a nude woman holding a baby.  His eyes flickering from the statue to the hallway where Wei-Li and Geoff should be coming down.  Then they could all give their cards to Wei-Li and have her plant them on four unsuspecting individual's before heading to the elevators.

Wei-Li waited her turn, standing there with the awe and anticipation she'd seen at home, and immiated.  She smiled and handed the guard her id without question.  He was, after all, just doing his job.

When it was handed back to her, she proceeded in and picked up the brouchers and individual tours and began reading it and comparing it to the information available.  She followed the path down the hall where Kale was waiting.

Geoff watched Wei-Li go inside and nodded to himself, taking a deep breath and cracking his knuckles as if loosening up for a big fight. "All right, Geoff. This ain't a big deal. Just go up there an' give him the ID card. Everybody else's worked so there shouldn't be any trouble. Just straight on in. Give him the card an' go inta the museum like ya belong there. Yep. Big fella like you who has the look of a thug jus' lookin' fer some culture an' educatin'. Yep.", he said to himself and then sighed,"Damn, I need a drink....or a gun."

With another deep breath and a straightening of his shoulders, he strides forward with his hands in his pockets, the hand in the pocket with the ID card constantly fiddling with it out of nervousness. As he passed through the metal detector and to the guard, he passed over the ID card without being asked, smiling in what he hoped was a relaxed manner. Without weapons on a job where he was supposed to be calm and there should be no fighting, Geoff felt very, very out of place and hoped that that wasn't noticable.

Kale looked up as he noticed Wei-Li making her way down the hall, hoping to see Geoff right behind her, "Here's our girl, hand me you're card." he said in a low voice to Connor.  His fingers found the ident card in his pocket and he waited for Connor to hand him his.  Once in hand he slipped both of them into his back pocket - easily accessible to Wei-Li.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Mon 24 July 2006.

As Geoff was handed back his ID card, he managed to fight the urge to sigh in relief. He hated having to do things in a way that was so sneaky. He would rather have come in, guns a-blazin' and making all manners of noise, but he knew that wouldn't have worked. It just made him nervous to have to rely on tactics he was unfamiliar with on a job. I he didn't understand how it worked, he didn't quite trust it to work.

But it had and he walked by the guard with a grin, slipping the ID card back into his pocket as he walked into the museum. He looked around the museum in awe, looking at the pieces of art with a smile on his face. Not out of any newfound appreciation for art, but because he could only imagine how much this stuff would go for if sold to the right people. They could make a fortune!

But that wasn't what they were here for. That was a depressing thought to him, but he figured that at least they were here to steal something. Some good old-fashioned crime, or the prospect of it, always cheered him up. So, with that thought in mind, he moved to some paintings to feign interest in them while he slowly and windingly made his way to where the others were, making sure that he looked to be interested only in the paintings and nothing else. Which wasn't that hard because he couldn't make heads or tails of some of them. Art. Go figure....

Connor slipped Kale his card, all the while droning on about the art...it sounded like he was a professional...which, Connor supposed, he was. He hoped, however, they'd be out of earshot soon...he was growing tired of rambling...

Wei-li followed the tour brouchure, moving from feature to feature.  As she moved to the Hand Written Manuscript of 'The Unification war, why the Independents failed' She passed Geoff, picking his pocked as she moved.

She knew she had to be careful.  If she wasn't she'd be picked up on by security.

The second 'theft' was eaiser.  Kale had made it impossible for her to not get them on the first try.

Once the pick ups were done, she began the second phase: planting them.  The first was easily slipped into a stroller as she fawned over the toddler refisuing to ride in it.

The next ID went to a man who looked like an opera singer, the next to an aristocratic looking man and the last to a matron monitoring three small children.

She thanked them all mentally for being on her guided tour.  When she was done, she walked to a water fountain and took a drink.

Once Wei-Li had slipped the cards out of his pocket Kale turned his attention back to Connor - trusting Wei-Li to do her part.  He nodded his head in mock interest, "That is interestin', they got more like that?  Upstairs maybe?" he said.  It was Connor's cue that it was time for them to head towards the elevator.

Connor nodded.
'Why yes, the more interesting pieces are upstairs...if you would follow me please..." Connor led them towards the elevator.

Geoff had to admit that he was impressed with Wei-Li's skills. He hadn't even noticed she had picked his pocket until she had gone on past and he shoved his hands in his pockets to find it gone. He continued to peruse the art and history that only served to bore him until he noticed the captain and Connor moving on out of the room towards the elevators already. Geoff gave them some time to get ahead of him and then casually made his way after them, always making sure to look suitably interested in some statue, painting or other such thing he passed.

Wei-Li simply continued to follow the self tour, knowing it would take her upstairs evenutally.  This also let her watch to make sure the others didn't attract attention.

So far, everything was going according to plan.

Kale slipped into the elevator, glad to find it empty and waited for the others to join him, he glanced down at his watch as a voice came over the PA system.

"Attention the Gallery D'arte will be closing in 10 minutes.  Please make your way to the exit.  Thank you for coming and have a wonderful evening." the message was repeated in Chinese and Kale watched through the doors as people began making their way out.  The others better hurry before it was too obvious that they were not leaving.

Wei-li contued her tour switching to page two, the next floor up and looked at the markings on the map, 'realizing' that to get there she would have to take the elevator.

She moved along without seeming to hurry, fading from sight on the cameras before joining the others.

Connor joined him and looked around, making sure no one was around to listen in.
"Almost showtime captain...you ready?"

"Always." Kale responded.  Looking up as Wei-Li, Connor, and Geoff made it onto the elevator.  It didn't appear that anyone was watching them so he hit the 'door close' button.  "Alright, let's do this." Kale said, he looked up at the ceiling and then at Wei, "Here, I'll give ya a boost, you'll need ta pop the door up there open an' we can climb on out." he squatted slightly and held his arms out to help Wei-Li get up high enough to open the hatch.  Then they could climb up on top of the elevator - wait for the museum to close.

Wei-Li smiled, but shook her head before climbing into Kale's hands.  In stead she knelt on one knee and nodded at Kale to do the same.

Once he did, she stepped gently onto his upright thigh and then stepped onto his shoulders and set to work.  Pushing the hatch cover to the side, she pulled herself up.

She gasped as she felt a slight twinge in her side and finished climbing up.  Once she was situated she braced herself against the cable and leaned back in upside down for the others to hand her a rope.

Connor handed her the rope and held his hand up for her to wait a moment.
"While you're up there, be extremely careful...the one thing the blue prints did not lay out was the inside elevator shaft...no telling what, if at any, security measures were taken..."

Kale raised his eyebrows and cast a slightly worried look in Connor's direction as he cautioned Wei-Li.  The man hadn't mentioned any security in the elevator shafts, Kale had assumed that he knew that there were none and he was none too happy to hear that they didn't actually know.  This was the type of thing that made it so his pland didn't go smooth.  Although, so far no alarms seemed to have gone off.  "You got that Wei?" he asked, pulling on the rope to make sure it was secure.  "Everyone up, I'll take the rear."

The elevator gave a small jolt then and started moving upwards.  Someone on a higher floor must have hit the button, he looked at Connor and Geoff, "An' I'm thinkin' we should try ta move a bit quick like." he added, they needed to get on top of the lift before those doors opened, he didn't care to try and explain why he and his crew were climbing through the ceiling of the elevator to no museum goers.

Wei-li tied off the rope in a bowline then did her best to help where she could and stay out of the way when she couldn't.

"No security here," she added. "So as long as we're quick and quiet here... should be fine."

Geoff had been quiet since they got into the elevator. He was really not liking this one bit. The whole being quiet and stealthy thing was usually not his way of doing things and his discomfort with it was showing. He had no guns, no knives and no prospects of getting any sort of weapon so he was not happy. Still, he had a job to do so he would be quiet about it, even if he did look quite displeased with everything in general.

When Wei-Li went up and then sent the rope down for them to climb, Geoff was eager to get up and out of the elevator. He, as it was known, was not a fan of small enclosed spaces for too long and so getting up and out of the elevator sounded like a good idea to him. So he moved first to climb up the rope. "I'll go up and then I can give ya both a hand up to get us up there faster.", he remarked as he gripped the rope and climbed up through the open hatch easily enough. He positioned himself crouched beside the opening, ready to give the captain and Connor a hand up, really more set on just pulling them up by the scruff of the neck if it would get them up there faster.

Connor grabbed onto the rope after Geoff and made his way up quickly...just because he was a technology whiz didn't mean he didn't keep in shape. He cleared the way for Kale and looked at the others."Alright...time is of the essence..."

Kale nodded to Geoff as he suggested climbing up first, "Whatever, just do it an' do it quick like." he said, probably a little more shortly then neccessary.  His eyes were watching the numbers above the door as they climbed upwards and Connor pulled himself up as well.  The elevator stopped just as Kale grabbed hold of the rope and half climbed and was half pulled through the opening, he shut the hatch just as the elevator doors opened to admit museum goers into the elevator.  He breathed a small sigh of relief as he looked up at the others.

The elevator shuddered slightly and then began descending with them sitting atop it.  It stopped on the ground floor and did not move again.  Kale held up a finger, they had to be absolutely silent.  He glanced down at his watch, they still had a little while before the museum was completely shut down and everyone but the night watch was gone.  Nothing to do now but sit and wait.

After what felt like forever - but was only a few minutes Kale whispered instructions, "Alright, time to move out.  Wei and Connor back through the latch and to the security room.  Geoff and I will work on getting me up to the 6th story." with a slightly pointed look he turned to Connor, "Now time is of the essence." he said, lifting the hatch.  They didn't have much time at all.  Kale had to trust that Wei-Li and Connor would be able to get into the security room and disable the alarms before Geoff got him up to the 6th floor.

Connor nodded and tugged on Wei-Li's arm.
"You heard the captain...let's move..." Connor dropped down through the hatch and hit the open door button, waiting as the thing opened and then he dahsed out, heading towards the security room...he held up a hallway short...waiting for the guard to leave for his brief break...and giving Wei-Li a chance to catch up.

Kale watched as Wei-Li and Connor disappeared down the hatch then turned to Geoff as he pulled the rope out of the small bag he was carrying.  Wire would have made him feel a hell of a lot more secure - but his wire and hook pulley was sure to have set off the metal detectors when they'd come inside - so rope it was.  He squinted up into the darkened shaft, "See that there?" he said to Geoff, pointing up into the blackness at a bar that stretched along the side - there was one on every floor.  From the schematics he'd looked at earlier it should bear weight. "Think ya can get this here rope up over it." Kale secured a weight to the end to give Geoff something to actually throw.  "The higher up the better." if Geoff could hook it around the third or fourth floor bar then he could pull Kale up and he could stand on the small ledge and toss it up to the top bar.

Geoff watched as Connor and Wei-Li made their way down the hatch to do their part of the job, a part of the job he was glad he wasn't in on. Far too subtle for his tastes, after all. Not to mention it seemed the one more likely to go wrong. Though he wasn't all that clear on how his part of the job would go either, if he was honest. Still, nothing to do now except hope that things go right.

He looked to the captain as he brought out the rope and asked him if he thought he could get the weighted end up and over the bar he pointed out. Geoff looked to the rope and then up to the bar again, looking thoughtful for a moment as he tried to figure exactly how far up he could throw it and still be accurate. He nodded and looked to the captain with a grin.

"Well, Cap'n. I'm pretty sure I can get it up onta the third bar up there. The fourth one I'd be reachin' fer an' it'd only be a fifty-fifty chance I'd get the rope over. That fine ta ya?", he said as he took the weighted rope from the captain and looked to him for the okay before doing anything.

"That works." Kale said and watched as Geoff tossed the weighted rope up.  His aim was good and the rope looped over the bar and Kale caught the unweighted end as the other end fell back to the top of the elevator where they were standing.  He only hoped that he'd be able to toss it up high enough to reach the 6th floor.

He quickly secured the rope to himself and turned to face the wall so he could use his feet to help pull himself up the shaft.  "You got a good hold on that - I'll not take kindly ta ya droppin' me down the shaft." Kale said, his tone was flat but there was a slight spark of the old Kale coming through.  He looked up and prepared for Geoff to help pully him to the third floor.

Geoff grinned as his aim proved true and he manged to throw it over the bar he had aimed for. He watched as the captain began to secure himself with the unweighted end of the rope as the weighted end landed back on top of the elevator. Geoff took that end in his hands in preperation for what was to come.

He smiled wryly to the captain's remark, even though his tone was flat when he said it. It was the closest the captain had come to his old self since the business with Rhaef so Geoff would take it. "Aw, c'mon, cap'n. Have I ever dropped ya down an elevator shaft 'fore? Naw. Not once. So why start doubtin' me now? I mean, tha's not ta say ya won't get smacked inta the wall every so often, but them's the breaks, ya know?", he remarked with a light chuckle as he began to pull the captain up as was his part of the plan.

Kale cast Geoff a slightly wry look - it went without saying that they'd never been in an elevator shaft before so of course he'd never been dropped down one.  "Just keep it nice an' steady." Kale said, "An' let's keep the bumpin' inta walls at a minimum."

With that he braced himself and began being slowly lowered up the wall.  Using his feet he kept himself steady.  It was slow going but eventually he'd made it to the  third story ledge - although ledge was a term he used loosely, it was barely three inches wide and Kale could really only get his toes on it.  He wrapped his left arm securely around the bar.  "Give me slack." he called down to Geoff and began pulling the weighted end of the rope back up towards him.  This was the dangerous part.  If he fell Geoff wouldn't be able to do a damn thing about it.  'Course ever job was dangerous.  This was no different.

Kale grabbed a hold of the weighted end as it came up and leaning out into the shaft, still holding on tightly with his other arm he set his sights on the sixth story bar.  He wasn't as confident in his ability to toss the end up as he had been in Geoff's - especially from his position here, not really any good footing to be had.  He pulled his arm back and took aim, throwing as hard as he can.  The weight hit the bar with what was entirely too loud of a sound for Kale's taste, but miraculously bounced up over it as it came down.  Kale let out a small sigh of relief.

"Looks like that's it, pull me up an' we'll see 'bout gettin' us a fancy stamp." he said, getting ready for the second ascent and hoping Connor and Wei-Li were doing their job.

Wei-li moved quietly behind Connor, doing her best to remain out of sight while still wathching his back.  She knew this was but the first in a series of tense moments they would endure.

She nodded, letting him know she was ready.

Connor waited for the security guard to vacate completely, then he looked back at Wei-Li.
"One gone, though sure to be back in a bit..." He looked up again, praying the other two would follow suit...no such luck. "And nothing is ever easy..." And now he needed a plan, Connor looked to Wei-Li. "We need a way to get the other two out of the room in a hurry...any ideas?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:51, Sun 27 Aug 2006.

Wei-Li smiled and held up a finger as she pulled out a small personal comm unit and smiled.  Rather then dialing a number she switched to a game screen and grinned.

The layout of the 'game' feild simulated the museum.  "A series of distractions, coming up."

Connor grinned and kept a close watch on the door.
"You're a God-send, you know that?..." Connor waited, watching for the guards to rush out and check on whatever distraction Wei-Li had planned...

The two guards sat in the security room, leaning back in the comfortable armchairs, the job was a piece of cake, sit around all night watching security screens, listening to the radio and snaking on chips - unless of course they were on patrol duty.  Tibs and Walkins weren't though - not tonight.

"Hey Tibs, toss me the bag." Walkin's said, propping his feet up on the edge of the terminal, neither man was actually watching the security screens.

Tibs tossed the back and leaned forward in his seat, letting out a small groan as the radio announcer continued bashing his favorite team, "This guy don't know nothin' not a gorram thing."

A moment later Harpers voice came on over his comm, "Tibs, this is Harper, I'm getting some funny readings here.  Noises ..."

"Noises?" Tibs said, skeptically.  "Don't be a gorram pussy."

"Nah, I'm serious, come check it out with me will ya?"

Tibs sighed, and looked at Walkins making a vulgar gesture which Walkin laughed at, "Alright, alright, I'm headin' out."

A moment later Connor and Wei-Li watched as Tibs left the room heading away from the security room - he'd left one man inside though.  As the two of them drew closer it was apparent the remaining guard wasn't paying any attention to his duties.

Wei-Li smiled.  "Mispent youth," she explained, then watched as one of the guards left the room and headed downstairs.

She rolled her eyes, nothing was every easy.  She waited long enought for the man to be out of hearshot then shrugged.  "Up for some old fashioned violence?"

She paused then ran towards the door, like someone with purposed.  She paused outside the door, then pounded on it.  "Left my light," she said in a close approximation of the man who'd just left's voice.

Walkins sighed and looked around the room, "Well I don't see it here." he pushed a few loose papers out of the way,  then grunted, "I'm not lookin' fer yer la suh*.  Come an' look fer yerself." he said.  When there was no reply though and Tibs didn't come in he looked back towards the door.  "Tibs?"

No response.

He got up and moved towards the door, craning his head out into the hall.

_*crap

Connor sighed and followed Wei-Li, they'd have to be quick to avoid being ID'ed. The guard peeked his head out of the door, and Connor sharged, swinging his fist right at the man's face as hard as he could.

The guard is stunned for a moment as Connor's fist comes down hard - it doesn't connect solidly though, instead grazing across Walkins jaw.  He recoils and spins around to face Connor, his fist drawing back in self defense - he's slow however as the world is still spinning slightly from the first punch.

Connor swore and threw to more punches, this time not rushing, but taking his time to aim.

"Tah me da." Walkin's muttered as he crumpled to the ground, falling slightly onto Connor's body - which was a good thing as he didn't make a sound as Connor lowered him slowly to the ground.  Their access to the security room was now open.

Connor lowered the man quietly to the grund and dragged him into the room all the way. He held the door open and waited for Wei-Li.

Wei-Li gave Connor an appologetic shrug and moved back into the room.  Now it was Connor's show.

Connor grinned and entered the room. He sat down at the main consule and immediately began pulling up all the windows he would need to begin to bypass the security systems. Connor began rapidly tapping keys and typing in codes. He was praying that he could bring down the security sensors long enough for Kale and Geoff to do what they had to do...
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:34, Wed 30 Aug 2006.

Wei-Li began pacing out the room, getting a feel for where everything was.  She checked a few possible crawlspaces but remained relatively unobtrusive.

Kale braced his feet again up against the wall of the shaft and prepared for the second ascent upwards towards the 6th floor.  He moved slowly but steadily, Geoff did a good job of keeping the ride up smooth.  Kale chanced a look downwards and immediately decided that wasn't one of his brighter ideas - it was a long way down.  Better no be droppin' me ... he thought, that fall looked all sorts 'o painful.

A few moments later he had reached the top of the shaft, reaching back into the bag at his hip he pulled out scrappers gel, applying a strip all along where the elevator doors shut, "Keep a good grip on me!" he called down to Geoff and allowed his entire body to swing out into the shaft with just his toes touching the end as he detonated the electrical wire in the gel and the small explosion cut cleaning through the space between the doors so he could pry them open with his hands.

Pushing with all his might he managed to get them open just enough to slip through, with his feet now on solid ground he looked back down at Geoff, "Alrigh' I'm up, ya just sit tight, I'll be right back!" then he slipped onto the 6th floor.

Geoff had done his best to keep the ride smooth, despite what he had said about banging the captain into walls. It wasn't all that hard. Even if it had been, though, it was what he was paid for. Well, most technically he was paid to beat the hell out of people, but, since there wasn't to be any of that today, he figured that the lifting and hauling part of the job should come in.

He grunted as the captain swung out into the shaft while he made his entrance. He sighed in relief as the captain actually made it through and called down to him to sit tight. "Ya got it, Cap'n. I'll be right here. Waitin'.", he said and then mumbled to himself,"I hate waitin'..."

Moving away from the elevator shaft the first thing Kale notices is how eerily quiet it is.  He glances both ways and then makes a left - the map of the 6th floor playing in his head.  He moves as quietly as he can but the sound of his boots makes him cringe everytime he takes a step as they seem to be echoing down the marble halls.  He reaches the end of the hall and turns right, this hallway is adorned with tribal masks - they all seem to be staring at Kale through dark empty eye sockets, it gives him the chills, "Ruttin' museum ..." he muttered.

The hall opened into a bigger room then full of glass cases, "Bingo." he said, moving foward.  The floor was criss-crossed at various places with red laser beams, security trips.  But there was a clear path to the glass case on the far right wall - the case containing the ancient stamp collection.  Kale grinned, Connor had done his job - now it was time for Kale to do his.  He was only a few feet away when a thin form suddenly dangled down from the skylight over head.  Kale froze for a moment thinking that somehow they had guards placed to fly down from the ceiling.  Shit, shit, shit ... he thought.  Then noticed a female hand reach out and place a device - similar to the one Kale himself was carrying and cut through the alarm system on the case.  She didn't seem to have noticed him as she reached her hand through the small hole she had cut and pulled out the stamp.

This woman wasn't a guard ... she was stealing the gorram stamp herself! "Hey, you ruttin' ..." Kale managed to get out, sputtering slightly at the shock of finding he wasn't the only one after the stupid scrap 'o paper.

Sophia hadn't wasted any time with dealing with the buildings security systems - it wasn't neccessary.  She'd found that access through the entire building could be gained through an airduct system.  It was a small and cramped and had required no small amount of strength and agility to climb up six floor through the narrow space - but Sophia was no rookie and she had strength and agility to spare.  Mr. Williams and Banks would not be disappointed and even more importantly - neither would she.  She was being paid a small fortune for this job and so far, everything was running smoothly.  Simple - in and out.

She wriggled on her stomach through the airduct above the sixth floor, her small flashlight held between her teeth until she had reached the duct right above the room the stamp was located in.  The blueprints were perfect, the air intake system was located right above the stamps display case.  Sophia smiled inwardly and wriggle a bit to remove the vent cover, pushing it ahead of her in the shaft where she could replace it easily.  Then connecting her cord securely to the inside of the shaft she prepared to lower herself downwards, head to the ground, feet in the air ... it was then however that she noticed someone else in the room.

Her first thought was that it was a guard.  She held her breath nnd stayed perfectly still as her eyes peered through the dark shadows of the museum.  If she waited he'd probably walk right pass ... he didn't though, he moved closer.

Godamnit ... she thought, if he moved any closer he'd see the grate out of place and she'd be humped.  He did ... but she noticed curiously that he wasn't dressed at all in a guards uniform and didn't move at all comfortably through the space.  So I got a lil' competition. she mused.  That she could handle.

She lowered herself through the opening then, not even bothering to cast the man another glance, pretending as though he weren't even there as she used deft fingers to shut down the cases alarm system and cut her way into the case.  She knew that she'd have the stamp in hand before the man even reached her, Too bad, his loss. She pulled the stamp out and then heard the man's voice behind her, she grinned and shifted her weight slightly in order to spin herself around to face him, her eyes almost level to him - the smug grin still on her face.

"Too slow fly boy, better luck next time though." she gave a little wave, just the tips of her fingers moving and pressed a button at her hip which would cause the cord to recoil and pull her up.

After recovering from the initial shock of finding someone else stealing exactly what he himself was after Kale wasted no time springing to action.  No ruttin' way was this woman going to outdo him in his own game.  And he didn't exactly appreciate the smug grin on her face.  Right as she pressed the button at her hip Kale was lunging forward, catching hold of her shoulders.

"Not too slow this time, eh?" he said, and gave a powerful yank.  The cord holding the woman up wasn't meant for this kind of weight and quickly unhooked from its spot inside the vents.

Sophia was more then a little surprised at how quickly this man moved and he grabbed a hold of her shoulders, yanking her downwards, "Da Chung Wu Dahn*" Sophia said in an ironic tone, "But don't count me out yet." she felt the rope unraveling before it actually began to deposit her towards the ground, she quickly used her falling momentum to swing her legs downward, landing her on Kale's shoulders, squeezing his face between her thighs, her body now upright, her knees resting on Kale's shoulders.

_*impressive

The woman was fast - he'd give her that.  She twisted over landing squarely on his shoulders, her weight wasn't much but she was using her thighs as though she might crush his skull between them.  Kale reached his arms up and grabbed her legs and bucked backwards, knocking her off his shoulders.  This time she did hit the ground with a small 'oomph'.  Kale spun around and dived towards her, he needed to get that damn stamp out of her possession.

Pain shot through Sophia's back and tail bone as she was thrown forcefully off the mans shoulders and landed hard on the marble ground.  She hadn't even caught her breath yet when she noticed him diving towards her.  Staying low to the ground and moving swiftly she rolled under one of the criss-crossing red laser beams and to the side.

Kale landed on the ground as Sophia rolled out from under him, placing herself in the midst of the alarm trips and out of the clear path Connor's security hacks had provided, "I don't have ruttin' time fer this." he muttered, rolling onto the top of his back and then using his momentum to jump to his feet.  This was getting dangerous - he stood on the other side of the red line, his hands out to his sides, "Come on, just give me the stamp an' we can both walk away from this." he said.  It was getting dangerous, either one of them so much as grazed one of those laser beams and they'd bring the whole gorram security team down on their heads.

Sophia rose to her feet facing the man, the thin red laser the only thing seperating the two of them, "Well, since you asked so nicely ..." she said sarcastically.  Keep him talking, keep him talking and find a way out of here. she thought, her eyes moving furtively around the room.  She didn't have time for this either.

Kale frowned, this was not going to be easy.  He took one step back and then lunged over the laser line, just barely missing it as he landed full on Sophia, his arms wrapping around her, his fingers groping the inside pocket of her small coat where he had seen her slip the stamp.  The two of them fall to the ground.  Kale is more then a little surprised then didn't trip the alarm.

"You're mistakin', I wasn' askin'.  I was tellin' ya to hand it over." he said, his fingers now finding the hard plastic square the stamp was preserved in.

Sophia struggles beneath the man for a moment, his weight pinning her to the ground. "Please, we just met ..." she said dryly.  She kicked her leg out then and using its momentum to help swing her whole body around, just as she felt the mans hands close in on the stamp in her pocket and remove it.  She rolled over him, stradling his waist now and sitting on top.  Her arms shoot out to grab his wrists to pin them to the ground.  She succeeds but it takes all her strength to hold them there and she's unable to take the stamp out of his hand.

Kale barks out a laugh as he is pinned to the ground beneath the woman, "Well, I'm not the one on top." he says, with a sarcastic grin.

"Cute." Sophia says, and slams his wrist against the ground over and over, trying to break his grasp on the stamp.

Connor tapped a final key and spun around in his chair to face Wei-Li.
"Finished. We've done all we can do. The security systems are down for as long as we planned it...but not a second more...so, what say we get out of here?" Connor stood and gave the security guard another kick, just for good measure.

Wei-Li winced a little when he kicked the guard.  The man was just doing his job.  "Let's go then..." she said, heading back into the hall.

The sooner they were out of here, the better.

Connor grinned and got up to follow Wei-Li, making sure there was no trace of evidence behind them. No fingerprints...nothing. Once that was done, Connor grabbed his things and headed out the door for god, closing it behind him...force of habit after having worked in the museum for so long...

The second Connor shut the door an alarm started up, piercing through the air like a blade, ringing in Connor and Wei-Li's ears.  The closing door must have set it off ...

Connor could have killed himself at that point, everything had been going perfectly...of course he had to mess it up.
"Ta Ma De!" He looked at Wei-Li. "Run!" And he took off down the hall, praying she would be right behind him.

Wei-li's jaw dropped and she shook her head.  This couldn't be happening.  Connor didn't have to tell her to run, but there was no way she could keep up with him.  She could feel her breath catching slightly the more she moved.

This was not good, and she knew it.

Kale grunted in pain as the woman slammed his wrist down against the hard marble floor again, summoning his strength he kicked up with his legs - rolling her over the top of him.

Sophia felt the world around her shifting as the man lifted his legs, forcing her to tumble over his head.  She quickly tucked her head into her chest to allow for an easier roll when she saw the red laser beam that she was heading right towards, Great gorram idea. she thought angrily.  He was going to get them both caught.  In the middle of the roll she allowed her body to fall to the side - just missing the thin red beam ... and then the alarm went off ...

Kale froze mid-motion, his eyes darting around the room as the alarm began blaring - he knew that he hadn't tripped the alarm.  His gaze fell immediately on the woman, "Ruttin' hell. Ta Ma De Huhn Dahn!" he began letting out a litany of curses, "Well, this is great, jus' great.  Ya happy now!" he said, pushing himself to his feet.  He needed to get out of here and fast.

Sophia felt her blood turn cold.  The alarm ringing in her ears.  She hadn't done it - she had avoided the trip, she knew she had.  She climbed to her feet and glared at the man, "I didn't do it." she said in a cold voice, "This would never have happened if -" she cut herself off.  This wasn't the time or the place, "It doesn't matter.  We have to get out of here.  Now."

"We?" Kale said with an arched brow, "Not gorram likely.  I got what I came fer." he turned then, diving once more over the red beam and head towards th elevator shaft, his mind working frantically trying to figure out how the hell he was going to get down that drop quickly.

Sophia stood there glaring at him for a second longer, "You ... you - Lio Cho Jwei Ji Neong Hur Ho Deh Yung Duh Buhn Jah J’wohn!" then she was springing into action, it didn't matter now to avoid the laser trips as that stupid fool of a man had done.  She darted right through them, chasing after him - there was no way out the way she'd come.  She skidded to a stop as they reached the elevator and the two of them stood looking down into the open shaft ... and the sixth story drop.  "This is your escape route?" she asked in a dry tone, "After you."

She watched the man for a moment - he realized that this wasn't going to work.  She let out a frustrated sigh, "Hold on." she reached to the side of the elevator and yanked the control pad off the wall - her fingers deftly toying with the wiring underneath.

Voices could be heard down the hall.  The guards.

Kale looked down the shaft to where Geoff was standing - there was no way that he'd be able to lower him down in time.  Then he glanced to his side as the woman came up alongside him.  He didn't want her here - but she had a plan and he could now here the voices of the guards coming from somewhere within the museum.  "Hurry, hurry, hurry, faster would be better." he said, watching her mess with the wiring.

"Hey, you want to do this!" she snapped at the impatient man as he watched over her shoulder she shot an elbow out to make him back up, "Get out of my light.  I just need one .... more ... Ha!" Sophia grinned and the elevator hummed to life, "I got it!"

Kale couldn't help but grin as well, they were gonna make it out of here.  He looked back down the shaft ... and realized Geoff was still standing on top of the elevator, "Shit - I got a man on there." he said to Sophia as she hit the button and the elevator began moving up.

"Well, you best tell him to get inside cause this babies goin' up." her foot tapped impatiently.

"Geoff!  Get down!  Get down!" Kale yelled, the hatch was still open he should be able to jump down in time.

... the question was did Kale have the time to wait for it to come up?  Just as he thought it, two guards rounded the corner, guns drawn and pointing at Kale and Sophia.

"Put your hands up!  Hands up!" one yelled, "You are under arrest!"

Bing!

The elevator doors opened and the woman grabbed his arm and yanked him inside, "Not today fellas." he said, as the guards fired, the shoots slamming agains the elevator doors as they closed in front of them.

Connor skidded to a halt and waited for Wei-Li to catch up. This was going to require a different action than running...it was pretty clear if he kept his current pace...he'd leave her behind...and he wasn't about to subject anyone to what could happen if the Alliance caught them. He dashed around a corner and waited for Wei-Li to get near before grabbing her arm and pulling her to where he was.
"I think it's pretty obvious we're going to need a plan...I'm thinking that there are some stairs in a back access that we could use...we'd have to go now though...can't wait for Kale and Geoff..."

Geoff had not liked waiting. It had been at once nerve wracking and boring as hell. What he wouldn't give for some trouble to start. That's what he had thought right when the alarm started blaring. "What the ruttin' hell!?", he had cursed outloud as his hand went to his gun....which he remembered wasn't there and he cursed again. He looked up and silently urged the captain to hurry the hell up.

He squinted and saw the captain and somebody else up on the top floor. He wondered what the hell was going on for a minute when the elevator came to life beneath him. "Ai ya huai le!! What the hell is goin' on!?", he yelled as, without much waiting for the captain's yell, he jumped back into the elevator through the open hatch.


He watched as the captain and some woman he didn't know dashed into the elevator just as some guards opened fire, hitting the doors that closed in front of them. "Cap'n, wha' in the gorram hell happened? I thought there wasn't gonna be no shootin' this job!!", he exclaimed and then gestured to the woman,"An' what the hell is goin' on here?! Ya pickin' up a date or somethin'?!"

"This is NOT a date." Kale barked at the same time Sophia scoffed, "Not likely."  The two of them glared daggers at one another for a moment.  Before Kale turned back to Geoff, "Shootin' wasn't in the plan but she set the ruttin' alarm off."

"I did not!" Sophia growled, sizing up the man that was now in the elevator with them, "You're goon probably did it." the man was large - bigger then the first man.  Sophia was trying to figure if she could take them both on.  She needed to get that stamp back ...

Geoff merely crossed his arms across his chest and leaned against the back wall of the elevator as he glared to the woman. "Hey! I didn't do nothin' but stand on the gorram elevator! Didn't set off nothin'. It don't even matter, do it? All I wanna know is what the ruttin' hell is gonna happen now?! The alarm's set off so this place is gonna be gorram impossible ta get out of!", he said, looking between the captain and the woman both, keeping an eye on the woman simply because he didn't trust her. She wasn't part of the plan and he had no clue who she was so she was a problem, in his book.

Kale suddenly realized how out of breath he was, placing a hand on the elevator walls, and glancing up at the descending lit up numbers, all the while keeping an eye on the woman he'd managed to pick up, he could tell she was trying to figure out how to get the stamp back from him - he couldn't let that happen. "Alrigh' lets think ... we're gonna have a welcomin' party the second these doors open," he said, "An' we don't got any weapons. .." he trailed off, still thinking.

"So we make them think we're not here." Sophia said.  <i>First things first, she thought, get the hell out of the museum - then worry about the stamp.  "Three guards per floor.  They wouldn't have had time to regroup yet and the authorities in this town are a joke - if we move fast we can get out of here before the Alliance comes down on the museum.."

Bing!

The elevator slid to a smooth stop on the bottom floor and Sophia motioned for them to stand back against the wall where the doors were.  Explaining by example how to sink back into the wall and out of sight - then the doors slid open the guards wouldn't see anyone inside.  Sophia's eyes darted to Geoff, he seemed like the type to be able to take a guy down with one hit - hopefully he got that message as she pantomimed a hitting motion.

Kale nods his head as the soft 'bing' fills the elevator car and follows the womans lead - pushing himself up against the wall.  It was a stupid idea as far as he was concerned - made them sit here cornered.  But it was the only idea they had.

The doors hissed open.

There was a pause that felt an hour long ... then a voice.

"Tibs I don't see no one ..."

"Well then explain the elevator turning on by itsself."

A man's figure moved forward then into the elevator, his gun drawn ....

Geoff was quiet as the captain and the woman spoke, not really being one for ideas. The only thing close to an idea he had was to kick the woman out first and escape while the guards were riddling her body with bullets. That probably wouldn't have worked though. She was way too small to take enough bullets to let them escape.

Her idea, however, was much better than his own so he did as she did, standing back against the wall and out of sight. He saw what she pantomimed and got the message loud and clear, a feral grin coming to his face. He was made to knock people around. It was about damn time he got to make use of that god given talent.

As the figure of a man came into the elevator, Geoff didn't hesitate. Linking his hands together, he broght his fists down towards the unsuspecting guard's skull, hoping to knock him out in that one hit. He was also hoping to get his hands on the gun, but one thing at a time.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Thu 31 Aug 2006.

The man hadn't seen it coming at all as Geoff slammed his fists onto his head.  A half finished yell escaped his lips as he collapsed onto the ground in a heap in the door way - the elevator doors now attempting to close and stopping against his body and bouncing back open.

The man outside the elevator did yell however, "Ai ya huai le!" he lifted his gun taking a step back from the elevator.

Geoff couldn't think about what was going on, he could only react. No time to think and, besides, if he did think about things too much he wouldn't do half of them. What with self preservation and common sense always getting in the way of the more exciting and death defying plans. So he didn't think as he launched himself at the man outside of the elevator as soon as the doors bounced open again, grabbing for the gun he held and aiming to drive his knee right into the guy's stomach. He only hoped that the effect of surprise of both his appearance and the straightforward charge gave him an edge.

Geoff definitly had the element of surprise as he threw himself out of the elevator and straight at the other guard.  Tibs, however lazy, was a trained professional though and used Geoff's own momentum to throw him past himself, not before Geoff got ahold of his gun however.  As Geoff hit the ground, landing on his back he still had the barrel of the gun in his hand - careful to keep it pointing away from him.  Tibs struggled to pull the gun free when Kale stepped out of the elevator behind him.

"I think ya might be wantin' ta drop that there weapon now." he said, pressing the gun he had taken from the man Geoff had just knocked out up against the back of Tibs head.

Tibs froze, thought for a moment and then let got of the handle, the gun dropping into Geoff's possession.

"There ya go, see no one gets hurt ..." he brought the gun in his hands up and then slammed it down on Tibs head - knocking him out, "Well, not much anyway." he shrugged.
This message was last updated by the player at 19:45, Thu 31 Aug 2006.

Geoff hated being thrown. It happened more often than he would like to admit, but it was one of those things that got on his nerves no matter how many times it happened. He was able to keep a grip on the gun though and that's what he figured saved his ass. Well, that and the captain coming to save his ass, but, hey, that's neither here nor there. He smiled as he stood up with new gun in hand and looked to the captain.

"'Kay, Cap'n. What's the plan now?", he asked, smiling widely now that he was armed.

"We get out of here." Sophia said, stepping out of the elevator herself, wasting no time stopping to chat as she took off running down the hall, not looking back to see if the men were following her - although hoping they were, she still needed that stamp.  She made it to the emergency exit stairwell, only to find two other people already there.  One man, trying to help a woman towards it.  "Ai ya!" she said in frustration turning back to the two men, "Shoot them and lets get out of here."

Connor put his arms up as he heard a woman's voice ordering someone to shoot him and spun around, this was no his best day ever.  He relaxed however as he saw Kale and Geoff, "We waited for you ... well, more percisely she wouldn't let me leave without you." he said, motioning to Wei-Li, "Loyal crew you got here Cap'n."

Sophia rolled her eyes, "You know him?  What the hell is this?  How many hun duns does it take to steal one ity bity stamp." they were obviously amateurs she thought.  The alarm still blaring in her ears reminding her they had to keep moving.

Geoff followed after the woman, finding he didn't really like her attitude. Nor did he like how she ordered them around. He took orders from the captain and the captain only as far as he was concerned. Still, they needed to get out and she was probably going in as good a direction as any so he followed. He had had yhis gun up and ready when she had said to shoot something, but relaxed witha  buig smile on his face as he saw Connor and Wei-Li.

He glanced to Sophia as she rolled her eyes and spoke with obvious distaste that there was more of them then just he and the captain. He looked to the captain and gestured to Sophia. "Who is she and why haven't I been told ta shoot her yet again?", he asked.

Kale smiled in relief as he saw Connor and Wei-Li by the door the woman had led them to.  Looks like it was time to make their exit and get off this rock.  He was hardly listening to the rest of his crew prattle on until Geoff spoke.  He looked at him and then back at the woman, "I don' know who the hell she is.  Far as I'm concerned you can shoot her." he shrugged.

Sophia froze, her eyes darting to the man that seemed to be in charge - the man who had stolen the stamp from her, "What? - Wait!  Wait." she said holding her arms up, "I wouldn't do that if I were you. You folk strike me as the type to have bitten off more then you can chew.  I'm thinkin' you don't really need any more enemies." she took a step closer to Kale, she could almost feel the heat of his body, "And trust me - you don't want to piss off the people I'm working for."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:13, Fri 01 Sept 2006.

"Ah, I don' know 'bout that.  I try ta piss all folks off equally.  I'm non-prejudice that way." Kale quipped.

"Uh Cap'n, if you don't mind me saying so, I think now isn't exactly the time for this - we need to keep moving." Connor said, interrupting Kale and Sophia.

"He's right." Sophia said quickly, stepping back away from Kale in a hurry ... she had picked his pocket.  She slid the stamp into her own without him noticing a thing, "We need to go." she didn't wait for any kind of response, just took off down the stairwell.  She couldn't believe he had actually told his man to shoot her - she'd helped him! ... 'course, Sophia knew she wouldn't have hesitated to shoot him either.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:16, Fri 01 Sept 2006.

Kale eyed the woman coldly but nodded his head to Connor, now was not the time for  this, they needed to get out of this gorram museum first, "Alrigh', let's move out." he said and took off after the woman.  The stairwell led outside and down the back of the building.  He ran quickly, around the front he could hear the sound of sirens approaching - looks like the authorities were on their way ...

He ran hard, letting the rest of his crew up ahead of him, "Back ta the ship." he told Geoff, and motioning for him to take the lead.  Wei-Li was lagging behind, he didn't blame her so he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and helped her keep up, "Come on, let's do this, you can make it." he said.

None of the group noticed the two men crouched atop the building directly across from the museum.  They were both dressed well and carried all of the most expensive and latest equipment.

"She's out." one man said into his radio, "she's got friends though now."

"Dont worry ... I'm on it." a voice replied.

Wei-li followed the others.  Her side twinged and she realized she needed all her concentration to keep running.  She moved forward, keeping an eye on her target as well as the area around them.

They'd had enough surprises already.

Connor followed closely behind Geoff, his pulse racing as he ran - he couldn't believe he'd set the damn alarm off.  Him.  The one in charge of avoiding breeching the museums security.  He was still beating himself over the head with it as the ship came into sight.  At least they had the stamp though - mission accomplished.  Even if it wasn't with the finesse he normally preferred.

Sophia ran along with the others - mostly for the sole reason that it meant running in the opposite direction of the approaching sirens.  She had no intention of sticking around though for them to find out that they no longer had the stamp.  She noticed they were heading towards the docks - all their gazes set on one particular ship.  DESTINY.  Sophia read the side.  So they were all a part of some theiving crew.  Scavengers.  There were many like them out in the 'verse.

Sophia turned then without a word taking off in the opposite direction - they wouldn't miss her ... at least not until they realized they were one priceless stamp short ...

[To Athens: William and Banks Headquarters]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:07, Sun 03 Sept 2006.

Kale noticed the woman break off from their group.  His only thought was 'good riddance'.  That woman was nothin' but trouble and he had enough trouble as it was.  As they approached the ship Kale yelled, "Rha -" he had to almost bite his tongue as he started to call out for Rhaef to help him get everything in order.  His face hardened, and something inside his chest wrenched.  Rhaef wasn't here no more.  Right.  Time to press on.

He ran up onto the ramp and into the ship.

[To Destiny: Cargo Bay]

Connor sighed and looked around. At least they had what they came for. However, common sense dictated they check before hand. Connor had already deviated from his meticulous ways once today. He shook his head. He'd ask later...there was no way Kale would let the stamp out of his sight...right?

(To Cargo Bay)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:51, Sat 02 Sept 2006.

Wei-Li's side was hurting so bad by the time they made it to Destiny.  She tried to tell Kale what she'd seen but he'd already run into the bay.  She moved after him.

--->To Cargo Bay

Geoff had taken point as he was told, still coming off of the rush of the escape from the museum. For a job that was supposed to be quiet and all, that had been pretty fun. He ran as fast as he could for Destiny, knowing that, as much fun as it might be, he didn't want too much excitement. With only two guns between the four of them, he didn't think their odds would be too good.

He ran up to the ramp as they reached Destiny, stopping to let the others on before him so he could cover their backs. When everybody was onboard, he finally boarded the ship.

<to Cargo Bay>