The party starts across the intersection.  You're not sure who it is exactly, but someone in the party isn't quite stealthy enough.  You hear one of the guards down the hall say, "What was that?"

In hushed orders, the sergeant says, "Nightvision on.  Flashlights off.  Guns ready."  Then all is quiet.  Too quiet.

You still hear the echoing sounds of soldiers coming down the stairs in front of you.  There appears to be only one way to go:  into the office that is your goal.

The party follows Twitch's lead into the office.  Like the others, it is ransacked.  There is a large L-shaped workdesk, several chairs, a computer monitor (but no computer), a file cabinet, and several boxes full of papers and personal effects.

As the last of the party shuffles into the office, Twitch shuts the door.  You turn flashlights off and prepare your MAW's.  After a few moments, you see a slight shadow under the door--extremely dim but slightly visible because of the low light outside the door.  They are making their way past.

A hand grips the doorknob.  It begins to rattle and then turn.

Then it stops.

"Hold your fire!" you hear the sergeant bellow.  "You startled us," he says.

A voice approaching from the stairwell responds.  "We were sent down to tell you a demolition crew is on its way."

"ETA?"

"Fifteen minutes.  Then ten minute charges.  They're going to blow the whole compound.  That's the only way to make sure."

"Make sure of what?"

"That there are no records.  No fugitives.  No evidence."

"I don't like this," the whiney soldier says.

"Keep your mouth shut and take post over there until the demo team gets here."

"Yes, sir."  He is not at all pleased.

The sergeant asks the new soldier, "Are we to continue sweeping the area?"

"Yes.  The body was positively identified as a hostile, although there are more expected in the vicinity.  Your orders are still shoot to kill, no questions asked."

"Okay.  Jackson.  Rogers.  Post here.  We'll skirt the area for more."

The whiney soldier and arrogant soldier both reply with, "Yes, sir."

"What's our exit strategy?" the sergeant asks.

"As soon as the team arrives, we head up the north stairs.  We'll be in radio contact."

"What about the elevator?"

"It reportedly takes seven minutes, twelve seconds to get to the top.  We checked.  But it's beyond the rubble so might not be reliable.  You don't want to be in there when the demolitions go off.  It'll be your coffin.  From the north stairs, there is a hall two floors up to a reliable elevator.  Only five minutes, two seconds to the top from there."

"You've timed this to a tee."

"Have to, sir.  Once the charges are set, it's ten minutes, not a second more."

"Roger that."

"Sir, we were also given instructions to flip the breakers.  We can find them easier if we have light.  The intruders may also have nightvision capability and are expected to be well-trained."

"Okay.  Take your team to the breakers."

"Johnson.  Cavenaugh.  Follow me."

You estimate a total of about 8-10 soldiers by the footsteps.  Two posted at the intersection you just crossed.  Three looking around the complex...for you.  And the rest moving toward the breakers.  They are talking and may split up.  You can hear them stepping through the smashed computers and other apparatus to get to the breaker room.

Mitose scowls, eases his katana back into his scabbard, and waits to hear the noise of the soldiers passing through the debris field, and whispers. "We had best start moving like we have only 10 minutes to complete our task." He moves to Binary, as he says, "I don't want to test their sense of timing while we're making a fighting dash to the hardline.  Sir, where is this hard-copy cache?"

Twitch nods at Mitose, and replies in a low whisper "I agree.  In ten minutes, thought, we ought to be able to take out a good number of these soldiers.  We need to take at least one if we can, so we've got a chance to be in on their comm lines."

He looks around the room, "Anybody got any ideas about how we might take out the guards outside that door without attracting the attention of all the other soldiers?"

Mitose nods slowly, and taps his katana's hilt, "I have a quiet means...but we must decide if that will be necessary." His voice is low, and even, a whisper to be ehard by those standing nearby. "If we attempt to exit via the same hardline as we entered, we will be forced to deal with the troops.  If we attempt to use their escape plan, we will also have to handle the troops.  If we can ambush a pair, we can utilize their radios to get a better sense of everyone's movements...btu we risk exposure by doing so."

He pauses, "We are blind in here..."

Mitose scowls, but pulls his cell-phone.  A button pops it open and activates it. He thumbs a key, and dials their Operator.

"Don't worry, I'm here," X says.  "Just trying to get a reading."  There is a pause, and you hear the clicking of his fingers on the keyboard.  "Okay.  Looks like we have two soldiers outside the door and about fifteen feet to your right.  Three are moving past room 415.  And there are four of them at the breaker room fiddling with--"

He stops.  Just then, the lights turn on all around.  The room you are in lights up, as well as the hall outside.

"Man!" one of the soldiers down the hall curses. "I wish they'd give us some warning.  I had my nightvision goggles on."

"--the circuit breaker," X finishes.  "Ah, now they're moving away south."

More tapping at the keyboard.  "If you did go through the north stairwell to the elevators, there's a tight security system.  I wouldn't advise it.  There are more guards stationed there."

Binary cuts in, "I can't do this with just ten minutes.  It's not like I can take all the papers back with me or upload them."  He pushes aside the desk and begins to unscrew a small vent in the wall as he continues, "I'll need time to actually read them."

X says, "That group of four is looking through the rubble at the south.  The group of three is moving toward the hardline you jacked up through.  Tell you what, I'll let you know when the demo team arrives.  You have that long.  Then we've got to get you out.  We'll think of a distraction or exit plan to keep you safe."

"I don't like this one bit," Binary complains.  With the vent off, he pulls out a fireproof box.  "Well, at least this is where he said it would be."  He opens the box and begins to sift through the papers.

Twitch looks at Mitose and whispers, "We need to take out as many of these guys as we can, quietly and quickly, before the demo team arrives."

He scratches his chin and quietly continues, "We maybe should split up into two groups, keep in contact with each other through X.  Leave at least one behind to guard Binary here."

He looks up at the lights, "Can you ask X if there's anything he can do about the lights?  Maybe see if he can't get the grid operator to cut the juice off at the source?"

Hearing Twitch's comment, X says, "I can't cut the lights.  But you can flip the breakers in the breaker room just down the hall."

Mitose scowls again, though he listens intently to everything X reports. " 'No plan survives engagement with the enemy.' "

"I do not like taking this risk.  Nor do I like killing innocents, and despite their position, that is precisely what these soldiers are.  It is like putting a sword to a blind man  simply because he cannot see what you do." But Mitose draws his katana, "We should take the pait nearby immediately, while their eyes are adjusting from the shock of the lights .  We drop therm and hide the bodies swiftly, then move on to the set that flipped the breakers.  We flip the breakers, break them, and then circl e round to take out the group at 415."

"They have nightvision...low-light goggles...not infrared, we move swiftly, and carefully, and keep our maglites handy."

Mitose then talks into his phone again, standing at the door, sword in hand, speaking very quietly. "X? I'm at the door...can you give me an update on the  two sentries' position in relation to my current position?" He gestures, "Twitch? If I don't drop one in a blow, you'll have to make sure he stays down.  Stay close."

[OOC:  As a modified .45...the MAWs still make a report or "bang", yes? or No?]

Lazarus scowls at this crossroad they have reached. "What if one of us goes and turns off the breakers, it seems our chance of being seen will be less likely if only one of us goes." His grip on his MAW was rocksolid and the look of concern on his face was apparent. "I will go, if no one else wants to, someone cause a distration and I will will make a break for it."

Mitose shakes his head, "To do so you woudl have to deal with the men just outside, and the men returning from the breaker room.  You will need more than one pair of hands to pu them down.  The other group is farther away, and while the light poses a problem, the sentries are n a position to be taken down out of sight.  But we must move switfly!"

"So" Xan whispers as he check's his MAW over once again, just to make sure everything is functioning, "What's the gameplan then? Whatever it is we've got to get out of this room, we're sitting ducks here."

Twitch looks from Xan to Mitose.  He quietly takes his MAW off safety.

"We have the advantage - they don't know exactly where we are, or how many we are.  Remember, this place..." he makes an expansive jesture with his arms, "...is all in our heads."

He steps next to the door.

"Mitose, when X gives you the location, let me know.  With the right focus, I can take out the two guards.  If I fail, I will lead them away, and give you all the chance to escape.  The most important thing is that you protect Binary, and get out with whatever information you can about the project he worked on..."

A calm expression, with a hint of a smile comes over his face...

Please note the following:  The MAWs are equipped with silencers, so they will make a sound, but it will be dimmed.

X can give you the direction the two soldiers are facing.  If you leave the room when the soldiers are facing away, it will be a Stealth Check -1 for one person to open the door.  Then it will be an additional Stealth Check -1 for each character stepping out of the room (taking into account noise, light, and the possibility that they may turn around or notice something in peripheral vision).

Mitose debates for a moment, and then sheathes his katana.  He draws his MAW, and thumbs the safety off. "Alright X, tell us when they're facing away.  We'll put out best shots on it."

Mitose turns to Twitch and Lazarus, "I'm more of a close-combat expert than a gunman.  If either of you are solid shots, then you are the two to make the initial strike.  When I give the word, move out as fast as you can.  Stay very low, if you stay below theyr usual field of vision, you'll be less likely to fire up their peripheral vision, its a Martial Arts principle.  Twitch take the  left-most man, Lazarus the right...shoot until they drop, and get them,and you, out of sight."

Mitose waits for their answers, before adding, "Then its on to the breaker room."

"I'm good with a gun.  I can take out the left guard.  If we fail, don't follow us out.  Let us at least try to lead them away from the rest of the group."

His smile widens.  He holds up his MAW.

"I'm ready to go..."

"Don't forget me." Grid's bass voice is a whisper as he moves up to stand beside the trio. "Jade can stay behind to protect Binary." His AK-47 is secured over one shoulder and he's drawn the large army knife given to him at the start of the mission.

His eyes turn to Mitose and the katana strapped across his back, "Let Twtich and Laz take their shots, if we are both quick and stay low they can fire over our heads and we'll be able to get in close and back them up should the need arise," he holds up the knife in emphasis, "Besides, we might be able to keep one of them alive so we can garner a little more information."

One eyebrow arches in query, "Sound reasonable?"

Jade says, "Okay.  Xan and I will stay with Binary.  You do your thing.  If you get them unconscious with the MAW rounds, then drag their bodies back into this room.  That way we can keep an eye on them.  If you fail, then take off to the north and around the corner to lead them away."

She taps her headset.  "Maybe we can keep in contact with these.  Or at least through X."

Laz shakes his head in dejection; it seems his plan isn't for everyone. He looks at his comrades and nods his head. He points his MAW at the guard on the left and waits for the signal. to hit the guard]
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:29, Fri 16 Apr 2004.

Xan silently nods as Jade speaks his name, holding his MAW at the ready.

While the party is strategizing amongst itself, Binary is reading a letter that was on top of the stack in the box.  "We may have a change of plans," he whispers to avoid attracting the attention of the guards.  "At least, as far as Jade and Xan and I are concerned.  You should all hear this, as it has profound effects on Zion's understanding of the Matrix."

Then he hands the letter over, and you all peer over each other's shoulders to read.

It says:


Mike,  ["That's my real first name," Binary whispers, pointing.]

If you're reading this, then things have gone to hell like I predicted but you've managed to come back.  And you remembered where I hid the secret stuff.  A few months ago, some new NSA agents were assigned to the project, but they were very standoffish.  And just a little too curious.  Several of us programmers were suspicious from the get go.  Especially because they appeared to be communicating with someone outside the complex, using earphones attached with a wire--not typical down here, even for those PIG gooks.  And they used commonplace or movie names instead of real names.  Real strange.  Agent Eastwood, Agent Jones, Agent Skywalker, and the like.  There was something just not quite right about them.  We just called them the Agents.  They made us nervous.

Then the order came.  All computer software and hardware was to be destroyed.  Anything to do with our investigation and experiments regarding the Matrix.  The military moved in.  I think they might blow this place soon.

You won't find any digital copies of anything anymore.  Except that I made a couple of secret copies of key projects and downloads.  To keep them safe, I taped them in an envelope and put them on the bottom side of your desk drawer.  Since you're gone, your office is actually a safe place to hide things.  You need to get that critical information and upload it out of here.  To somewhere where they can't erase it.  It's our life work, Mike.  Don't let them destroy it.  After you left, we were working on things you won't even believe.  Such advances, and many of them without the need to leave the Matrix at all.

Three programmers have done like you and left the Matrix.  As soon as I write this letter, I'll be joining them.  I have the pill.  We've lost other programmers.  They just disappeared.  I don't know if they fled or were killed.  But I know they'll be hunted.  We all will.  I hope you can find them first.  They are:  Jonathan Price, Yusaku Kamakura, Ted Chung, Anthony Miller, Tony Hawkins, Jean luc Marx, Francis Capanelli, Elle Draney, Carey Ann Ross, and Thomas Anderson.  As you know, they're our best.  The most involved.  The names the machines fear the most.

I hope you've found that Zion you talked about.  I hope there's something out there.  Resistance from inside the Matrix is futile.  Fake.

If you get this, look for me at the Eastern Rim of Oxland 2.  If I can't find anyone when I get out of here, I'll hole up there and pray you find me.

Good luck,
Sam

The letter is dated just over a year ago.

While you were reading, Binary was looking through the other papers.  "I don't have time for this," he says.  "We've got to upload whatever's on those discs and look through the data after we get out of here."

Mitose listens to Grid, and shakes his head, "I am forced to agree with Twitch.  If Lazarus and Twitch can't take them down, they will believe they only have to deal with two men...not four." He pauses, "Let them have their shot.  We wait poised to back them up.  If there is an exchange of fire, the jig is up anyway, so we come out shooting."

He pauses, "Further, I suggest that Twitch and Lazarus take the sentries nearby.  Once they open fire, Grid and I make our move immediately to the breakers and that unit.  With speed, we will not be noticed, and Twitch and Lazarus can then hide the bodies of the men they've taken, and move to be in a better position against those near 415."

Mitose readies his MAW, "Speed and relative silence are necessary.  If they manage to return fire, we'll have to put them down...HARD."

"Let's move...X?  Give us your mark."

Mitose prepares to do as indicated, gesturing for everyone to be ready.

Twitch nods his agreement with Mitose.

"Also, then Jade, Xan and Binary can make their way to his office, with Lazarus and I close behind to back them up.  When Grid and Mitose finish with the breakers and the soldiers in that area, they can circle back around and meet up with us in Binary's office."

He still smiles.  "With luck on our side, we should rendezvous with enough time to upload the data, and get ourselves out of here before the whole place comes crashing down."

He adds, almost to himself, "I love this stuff."

Grid listens intently to Mitose and Twitch his expression unreadable.  Withdrawing his MAW he nods once. "Very well.  Let's begin."

He turns to look at Twtich a smile of his own breaking through.  "That makes two of us. Though this stuff may just get us killed." Realising that he was about to break away from the group with Mitose he quickly catches each person's eye.

"Good luck everyone. We'll see you in Binary's office."

He then moves to take up position by the door.  Ready to move as per the plans.