4pm, 10 hours to the run begins.

"Could work. We get th' nethead ta set up a few vuln'rabilities in their system, trip a couple'a alarms on th' opposite side of th' compound - enough ta get 'em ta check 'em, not enough ta call in the cav..." he shrugs "we c'n mebbe loop th' sec feeds in th' loading bay, make it look like we're loadin' up th' truck while we sneak 'round th' place for a few minutes, then get back and hop out in tha rig."
"If we really need ta split up, I c'n keep an eye on th' truck an fib our way through a guard check. Can get a ghostie workin' oversight ta give y'all th' stealth y' need."

If we want to sneak in, we would have to disable and hold the original workers - possibly knock them out and stow them in Copper's RV. Toombs can get another spirit up and running to give the rest of the party some Concealment (and possibly some astral support). If you guys want, Toombs can stay with the truck in case guards swing back - I can be plenty convincing, especially if you all look like you need to pee when we get there. Copper could even try getting a couple of drones to help with the loading process if she wants to lend a little bit more respectability all around. Otherwise, small drones can probably just hide underneath the truck and give you all a little more firepower if the worst should happen.
I just really regret not having any mind control spells now.

8pm, 6 hours until the run.

12pm, 2 hours until the run.

Probably time to get to your places. (I'll post a '1am' post on Thursday, 2am next week, then just action-by-action until you finish.)

Copperhead spent a few hours familiarizing herself with the roads and terrain around the complex as well as in and around the ambush site.  If things got hairy, she wanted to know every escape route and bolt hole there was.  Then it was time to get ready.

First was a thorough inspection of her vehicles.  A run was not the time to run into a blown tire, an empty gas-tank or a low battery.  Particularly not when you were the fraggin' rigger.    Then it was time to attend to personal needs:
- Extra deodorant - it was only polite
- Water bladder - dehydration could be downright inconvenient.
- SeeCure undergarments - over hydration could be pretty inconvenient too
- A remarkably clean lab coat - much more likely to trigger an "ask questions first, shoot later" response than the reverse.  (Some lab geeks were expensive.)

She considered bringing her predator, but it was really just for show.  And it would more likely cause grief than provide benefit in this environment.  She did retain a couple of smoke and neurostun grenades though.

Confident that she was as ready as she could be, she headed to the ambush site and did a thorough sweep of the area, hiding one of the crawlers deep in the alley the waste disposal techs were most likely to run for if they decided to make a break for it.  Then it was time to go pick up the J.  After all, there were soon going to be negotiations to be performed . . .

Toombs arranges the joygirls and pays out of pocket to make sure their performance is up to snuff. While the team is assembled, he pulls out a massive handgun, starts to take it apart, and has to use a hammer and chisel to get the slide off of the frame. There's a lot of cursing and sputtering as springs don't so much fly off as disintegrate with a cartoonish huff. It takes about a half an hour for him to reassemble the gun (it takes 2 tries for him to not have parts left over), but by the end he has a very impressive facsimile of lethal force. He slides a candy bar into the magazine and slots the mag.
He then starts stuffing roofing nails and pencils into every available pocket, followed by a trio of pool cues. If questioned he just mutters "'s magic drek. Don' question m' methods."

Noruas checks that he has all the necessary decking equipment before pulling out his customized predators.  He ejects the mags and inspects the ammo. Better not be EX Explosive rounds like last time.... Assured that they were indeed gel rounds, he slots them back in and holsters the guns.

He pauses for a second before turning around to grab 2 extra clips of EX Explosive rounds and stuffs them in his pocket.  Better safe than sorry.

St. V checks over his weaponry one last time as well.  He brings along his Ares Predator and makes sure the smartlink is working properly before loading it and tucking it into his Concealable Quickdraw Holster.  He brings along the silencer attachment too, but keeps it separate and slides it into one of the pockets of his bio hazard removal uniform that he'll wear over his usual armor.  He also stows two extra clips, his shock gloves, and one each of a smoke and flash-pak grenade.  After testing out all of his communication equipment, Saint Velveteen is ready for the run.

Pool cues??

While not stated, I'm willing to assume everyone is riding in the van with Copperhead. If you're taking your own transportation, please tell me.


The van pulls into its ambush spot early and sets up. The van is pretty crowded with the call girls, the mages, the Johnsons, the troll... But Copperhead can park it out of sight (or in sight, if she prefers).

1:05, actually a little early, the truck comes rolling along. You can hear it before you see it. Half a minute later, you see the two headlights cutting through the dark. A noisy, heavy truck, driving a little below the posted limit, and slowing down as it takes corners.

Fortunately, this stretch of highway is pretty quiet, but you still can't guess how long you have before the next car comes through.

I presume the joy girls will be getting there on their own.  (If necessary, I'll "borrow" a car for them to drive - presuming we can find one who knows how.)

Also, I thought we only had one Johnson and one mage?  Or did we pick up some others along with the Joygirls? :>

So we're on a highway?  Can you give an idea of the environment?  That'll better let me describe where the van is (and potentially where any of the other drones are.)

Copperhead's drone picks up the vehicle on radar and then on visual long before the vehicle is audible and digitally zooms in on the side panels to confirm that this was indeed their target.

edit: *cue balls*. As in the white one that you smack.
The call girls will be waiting closer to the site, I've given them a burner cell that I can call them on to get the show on the road.

"We gots a plan ta stop da truck or am I gonna have ta wing et?"

It's a small, state highway, one lane in either direction, speed limit of 55mph. Grid guide is active here, so most cars do actually drive at 55mph. Street lights are intermittent, otherwise it's just lit by the headlights of passing cars. You generally see about one car a minute. Past the edge of the street, it's largely wooded. You're skirting the edge of the park, and the particular spot you chose from the ambush (the one with the fewest witnesses) has another copse of wood on the other side.


Zooming in with the drone, you can confirm it's a biohazard truck. If you want to make a perception check, you can try to read the license plate.

Toombs pulls out a cue ball, rolls down a window, and begins to focus intently on the truck. "I got yer backup."

quote:

10:03, Today: Copperhead rolled 2 successes using 6d6 with the Shadowrun system with a target of 4 with rolls of 5,5,1,2,3,3. Perception test.

Checking the plate as well as any other useful information about the vehicle - such as whether it seems armored.

The van will be parked around 200 yards back from the ambush site, ready to pull out and do a very awkward 13 point turn in front of oncoming traffic if someone shows up early.  If the terrain permits.  Won't bother bringing out the Doberman.  I presume there's no cameras in the area?

Once they're in location, Copperhead drops off the other three team-members at the ambush location.  She stays in the van to man the sensors and drone.

"R'tine cop stop.  Da flashin' lights should make'em stop.  An if not, da MMG makin' a line o'dust in fron a dem otta.  When dey stop an open da door, ya cuffs 'em an sticks 'em in da back right fast.  Den one o' ya drives to our neotiatin spot while da udder two sits in da back and cuffs and watches.  I'll jam em so der's no callin."

I'm going to presume that Toomb's question and subsequent discussion happened well *before* we could see the lights of the approaching truck :>

As soon as the vehicle passes the van, she'll start jamming.  Whether the others are willing to hide in the woods or not, Copperhead will swoop in with the Lonestar drone coming towards the vehicle with lights flashing at about windshield height, MMG leveled.  If they don't stop/pull over, she'll move further in front and lay down a line of fire in front of the vehicle.  If she absolutely has to, she'll take out a tire, but hopefully it won't come to that.  Once the vehicle comes to a stop, she'll use the loudspeaker to broadcast a "Please exit the vehicle and place your hands behind your head" announcement.

Assuming the vehicle stops, St. V runs out all sneaky-like to pull the guys out of the truck and cuff them as planned.  He tries to stay to the shadows as much as possible since he is dressed nothing like a Lonestar employee.  He puts a shock glove on one hand just in case one of the biohazard guys decides to give them trouble and he needs to stun them real good.

12:21, Today: St. Velveteen rolled 2 successes using 4d6 with the Shadowrun system with a target of 4 with rolls of 1,4,3,4. Stealth: sneak up on truck.

The truck is reinforced and does seem to have some specific modifications for resisting certain types of damage, although it doesn't look to have any ballistic armor (just plenty of size).

The truck continues on for about five minutes before it slows, flashes hazards, and glides to a stop. The engine shuts off as the drone hovers safely behind. The driver-side door opens and a large ork in a biohazard suit (minus helmet) steps out. She shouts at the drone, "bugger off! We're paid up and on a job. Send issues to corporate and stop harassing us. We ain't got any bribe money."

Meanwhile, from the passenger side, St. V closes in on the vehicle and gets within twenty feet without any apparent alarm. He can see two more people waiting inside the truck. I wasn't sure from your post if you're actually running up to them, or just preparing to.

He'll continue right for the truck to restrain the guys inside.  I was assuming someone else would be helping him too, but even if he's by himself then St. V doesn't have time to waste time.

If possible, the drone moves to a position where it can cover both the orc and the passengers through the now-open driver door.

"All occupants exit the vehicle.

Place your hands behind your head

LoneStar appreciates your cooperation

Failure to comply will result in escalation"

The pre-programmed voice was a bit more imposing than Copperhead would likely have managed on her own.  And the MMG definitely helped.  There was a loud click as she chambered a round for emphasis.

quote:

12:49, Today: Copperhead rolled 3 successes using 6d6 with the Shadowrun system with a target of 4 with rolls of 3,2,5,4,(6+2)8,2. Observe in detail.

The drone calls out and the driver already outside of the truck sighs and leans against the side of the truck, arms behind her head. The two inside seem a little less eager to hop out (but also don't have LOS on the drone). Then the passenger door opens and the one closest is yanked out and thrown to the ground. There's a few moments of shouting, but St. V can pin and restrain him.

The one guy remaining in the truck draws a small handgun and holds it, shaking, at St. Velveteen. "Who... Who the hell are you? You're not Lone Star, are you?"

The one with her hands up moves back to the truck cab, but a quick warning from Copperhead is enough to get her back in line.

Is Copperhead able to maintain line of site on the Orc while getting line of site on the guy in the front seat through the open driver-side door?

If you circle around. It'll put you on the far side of the road and you'll have to close in a little bit.

"Drop your weapon!
This is your first and final warning"

Copperhead holds action, waiting to see if the gunman complies or if V or one of the others can either talk him down or disable him in short order.  If he moves to shoot, she'll put a 6 round gel burst in his back.  Provided she believes they're far enough from anywhere that would react to a burst of MMG fire, she'll wait until his weapon deviates to the point she's confident St. V won't take an errant reflex round when the gunner goes down and put a burst in him anyhow.  A car could come along at any time and showing they're serious now might cut down negotiation time later.

Toombs will hop out and hoof it to the truck to help St V out, with a ski mask over his face. "Listen, mate. You can fight the good fight now, or pick the better one later. We don' need y' ded, we don' want ye hurt, just doin' our jobs too"
He levitates a cue ball menacingly, letting it skip around like a wolverine in front of his outstretched hand. "They don' pay ye enough ta deal with me, but we're pr'pared t' compensate y' for yer time if'n y' can keep from raisin' a fuss."
"Jus' hop outta th' cab with no silent 'larms an' we'll let y' get back tae th' bus'ness of livin' quick as y' can. But fuck w' us, an' one'a you gets ta try ta catch th' cannonball w' his teeth."

Going to roll Etiquette to coaxe them out, might be taking a defaulting penalty to Intimidate, but having an overt use of magic while being backed up with a milspec drone and a troll should give me a little bit of an edge.
14,4,5,9,2,5

St. V just scoffs with a smirk on his face when the guy asks if they are really Lonestar, then lets Toombs take it from there.  While his friend works his magic with words instead of spells, St. V picks up the guy he restrained and holds him between himself and the guy with the gun as a metahuman shield.  "What he said."