When it is time, you are brought to the Strategy Center briefing room.  There, some of the top military commanders in Zion are gathered.  Your group is brought to the table, where a map is spread.

Cyclops stands in front of you.  He is a tactician and covert operative in Zion's army, considered one of the best.  His face is badly scarred from a run-in with Sentinels, and he has a patch over one eye.

"It is time for you to graduate to a high level operation," he says.  "It is dangerous and it requires the highest level of skill."

He points to an area on the map.  "We have an operative in place here by the name of Jinx.  Jinx has gained an asset, code-named Jaguar, who is willing to talk to representatives of Zion.  Unfortunately, Jinx has been made and can no longer go near Jaguar without fear of blowing the operation.  Jinx has arranged a meeting with Jaguar.  You are to meet up with Jinx and he will give you details on meeting Jaguar."

He pauses.  "This asset, Jaguar, is a sentient AI, one of the Merotechs.  He has disclosed to Jinx that a Merotech leader will be meeting up with a leader from the Shadow Regime.  We want you to get details about this meeting and other information from Jaguar and then call back for further orders."

He moves his finger to the left.  "As you can see, this location is in New York City, near this skyscraper, which ironically is an unnamed building, called simply Building 1732.  This is because it is the headquarters of the Exile leader, the Merovingian, a place as formidable as the Digital Fortress you just came from.  The meeting between the Merotechs and Shadow Regime will take place somewhere within in Building 1732, and we want you there to listen in."

He traces a darkened circular area surrounding the building.  "This dark area is a zone of radio silence.  You cannot communicate to Zion within this zone without immediately alerting the Merovingian of your presence--except by hardline.  As you can see, your jack in location is about a quarter mile outside the zone.  You will then meet with Jinx just outside the zone.  Your meeting with Jaguar will be deep within the zone of radio silence, but we are told there is a hardline near the meeting place.  After you get the information from Jaguar, you call us on that hardline for instructions.  That will also be your exit point once the mission is complete."

He looks up with his one eye.  "Your mission first is to get the information about the meeting from Jaguar, and also to get any other relevant information you can out of Jaguar.  We also need to see whether this is an asset we can trust, and how much we need him, or how expendable he is.  Any questions?"

 Cala studies the map carefully, remaining silent.

"Uh, we can take weapons with us, can't we?" Jade asks, a bit worried.

Dracos examines the map. He tries to estimate the distances between buildings and how tall said buildings are. Running across buildings allowed for quick and stealthy approaches...

"Yes, you can take guns," Cyclops answers.  "It's only the communications that will tip off the Merotechs...not to mention Zero-One."

Dracos sees that the buildings are spaced like any other buildings in New York City.  The Merotech Tower is 34 stories high.

"So we don't know where to go within the building until we talk to the contact?" Shadow rolls his eyes "Going in blind?  I see us running a lot of stairs."

"Yes, I'm afraid so.  The contact is a bit skittish...obviously concerned about his own existence since the AI's do not exist outside the Matrix.  But maybe you can tap into what his motivations are."

OOC: Last call.  Let me know if you have any questions or any last things to do.  We head out tomorrow.

Also, please give a list of what you're character is taking into the Matrix.  An example from last time:


Items this run:
Street clothes, college student,
letterman jacket (bulky to hide uzi),
Uzi (safety on),
4 extra filled magazines, $7K left

The door shuts in the back with an audible click.  Those who look back see a small wiry youth with red hair.  With a big smile on his lips he announces, "You all weren't thinking of leaving without me, were you?"  He pulls his cane around and you see him stiffly walk down.  There is a walking cast on his right leg.  "It just wouldn't be right, I tell you. Not right at all."  He gives everyone a nod as he winks at Jade.  Pulling out a piece of paper he slides it over to the briefer and pushes his glasses back on.  "Here's my list of goodies.  Plus maybe we could head in about an hour or so early and scout around.  I hear there's a great steakhouse, Chops I think it is, right around the corner from there.  They have the most succulent prime rib you could imagine.  And their hand turned garlic and creamed mashed potatoes are to die for."  He licks his lips as he salivates.

 The sentinel nods respectfully toward Screed. "It is good to see your injury was not serious."

 "Please load the equipment from my simulations," she says flatly, turning back toward Cyclops.

Jade hands over a list.  "Here are the goodies I want.  Too bad you can't program in henchman to carry it for me."  She winks and waits for the others.

The stealthy kid grins, handing over his list of things to program in, "Here ya go. I wanna play with the new toys..."

Screed smiles at at the other sneaky kid, "Yeah the new toys look cool.  I can't wait to try them out NOT in a practice program."  He seems to almost vibrate with excitement.  "So when do we get to go in?"

Just to confirm, active characters for this jack in will be:

Screed
Jade
Dracos
Cala
Shadow
Rabbit

If I left anyone out, let me know.  If you haven't told me your equipment to take in, let me know that too.

Screed looks at the others, especially the AI.  "Wow, an AI, cool.  I'd love to get my hands on your mechanisms and my mind in your programming.  I bet it's great.  So what does everyone do?  I work on things from a distance, usually with words.  If words don't work, I like to step back and disappear.  I also do machines and computers."  He pushes his glasses back up on his nose. "I'm good with guns, but if something gets close enough to touch me, then I'm a goner.  So let's put it this way.  I will never be close enough to be touched."  He smiles and he bounces eagerly in his chair waiting for the others to talk.

Jade says, "I blow things up with big guns."

 Cala nods to Screed. "Yes, it might be useful for you to familiarize yourself with my systems, should I take damage during the mission."
 She turns back toward the rest of the group. "I have extensive simulation training in martial arts, light automatic weapons, and firearms. I am also an expert Sentinel pilot, but that is unlikely to be of use in the matrix."

Dracos leaps towards Screed, wrapping an arm around his neck, "I like this guy already," he grins as he looks at the others, "I disappare into the shadows, attack from above, below, and to the side, and if its a hand gun... I can usually kill with it...."

Screed laughs and adds, "Well remind me to not use you to hide behind.  It's never fun to have your blockade disappear."  He pauses and then continues, "Yes, I will familiarize myself with your systems.  Sounds like fun to me."

Shadow finally pulls himself away from the screens, unaware of the entry of Screed.  "Wow, I can't wait to try out this stuff!" Shadow finally sees Screed "When did you show up?"

Screed looks at him surprised, "What do you mean show up?  I've always been here."  He turns to Dracos and says, "See this is what I mean.  My work is always underappreciated and unnoticed."  He throws his hands up in exasperation but ends with a smile.

Shaking his head he sighs dramaticly, "I know what you mean my friend... that chicita over there felt it appropriate to see how many crew members I let die while running or hiding in the shadows... so underappreciated..."

"That's an interesting interpretation of the question." Rabbit straightens up and detaches herself from the wall against which she had been leaning. "We work to free our people, not for appreciation or recognition."

The firs lights in Screed's eyes as he declares vehemently, "Don't ever doubt my desire.  Zero-1 is coming down, and I am going to be the one pulling the plug."  After staring a couple of seconds, he calsm down smiels and chuckles.  Pushing his glasses back on, he sits down.

Rabbit asks Cyclops, "Who is the team leader for this operation?"

For those who haven't yet, please do the character description stat insertion.

I think we're about ready to go.  No sense in delaying this any further.  You'll be boarding the Hyperion again tomorrow.

Locke turns from Cyclops to Rabbit and says, "I decide team leaders, and you guys so far do pretty well without one, but if you want someone to take point, just say so.  I think all of you are qualified."

Screed says, "I've got the broken leg, so I should be the team leader.  Refute that logic, I dare you."  He chuckles as he adds, licking his lips, "Besides, I know where the best restaurants are in the area."

 "It would also appear that you have the most field experience," Cala says, the tiny manipulator arms under the sentinel's eyes chittering slightly.

Screed is surprised at being taken seriously.  He admits, "Actually, Jade has been out more tiems than I."

 The sentinel swings back around to focus on Jade. "Ah yes. I forgot. She, however, has not been injured. I am told one learns more from failure than success. Clearly, you have failed more." Cala raises a tentacle to point at Screed's cast. There isn't the slightest hint of sarcasm in her synthesized voice.

Screed gives a hearty laugh at that, "Umm, well, I guess I should be a genius by now."

Jade says, "You wouldn't want me to be leading unless your tactic is to go in and shoot everything.  This mission seems to need a little more finesse than I've got.  A good fast-talker should lead."  She looks at Screed.  "Then again, the machines may feel more comfortable talking to their own."  She swivels to look at Cala.  "Doesn't matter to me.  If I feel threatened I'll shoot anyhow."

Screed hesitates, "Okay, okay.  I don't think this calls for shooting-em-up, at least not right away.  We probably need to save guns for the shooting our way out, if we need to.  We've got to find this dude and get him out.  Okay we do that.  How about this for a rule.  There are usually two options: talking and shooting.  If you talk, you can always shoot later.  If you shoot, you don't generally get to talk.  That way everyone gets a turn.  Sooooo, no one pulls a gun unless they see someone trying to kill me."  He smiles and sits back.

"Sounds like a good plan," Jade says, but adds with a smile, "But remember that sometimes if you don't shoot, you don't get the chance to ask questions.  Not unless your ghost sticks around."

Rabbit says, "We should not reveal that Humans have reprogrammed an AI." The girl looks over at Cala, "Uknown, she is a weapon. Known, she is a target."

 Cala nods the sentinel at Rabbit's statement. "This is true. I am not sure, however, how long my disguise will last under scrutiny. My code is likely very different from yours."

"If I can't walk in the front door with my arsenal, do we have data for alternative entry? Underground utility tunnels, cleaning crew and waste disposal schedules, rooftop helipad access ... that sort of thing."

Cyclops says, "We have no access inside the Merovingian circle.  No information, no ability to contact you.  You will be all alone.  In other words, we only have the access information provided to us."

Rabbit turns to Dracos, "Can you make the jump and bring the rest of us over on a clothesline?"

OOC: We ready?

Dracos looks to Rabbit, "I may be able to... I've got some pretty good legs when jacked in. THough still nothing spectacular unless its 'close.'"