Duck eyes the door after the Johnson leaves, looking to the other two on hos team that are present. “So, anyone interested in a little side action on this one?”

"Not only am I interested, but it sounds like our employer doesn't even mind if we do. So long as we don't get too greedy, I'm sure." Caduceus's mind was already running through his list of contacts, trying to figure out who would be best to tap for info on the treasures that Amazonia's forests would have to offer. He needed to throw together a guidebook of sorts containing the flora and fauna that would be easy to transport and provide a nice payout. Not to mention he might want to procure some handy ways to transport goods discretely. "Let's find a nice spot to discuss the finer details. Places like this always make me feel like the walls have ears." Caduceus scanned the room on the astral one last time before drinking the last of his water and standing up.

The room is pretty sterile on the astral.  The room is warded with a lower force ward.  It wouldn't keep out someone who was determined, but doing something to the ward would presumably alert local security.  No signs of violence, though there's definitely a taste of conflict or opposition - which makes sense in a space primarily dedicated to negotiations.

Koby smiles back at the other two.

Yeah, let's take this conversation elsewhere.  I'm sure our new brother (Hairy) would probably like to join in on this chat.  Shall we go?

He stood up to join Caduceus and indicated the door at WD.

Duck just manages to hold back a sigh at Cadeuces’ enthusiasm. Something about this one seemed off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. His thoughts about being in over his head for such a small payday would have to wait.

“That’s not exactly what I meant, but you’re right, this would be better discussed elsewhere.” Duck headed out with the team, down to collect Hairy, and then out back to the secret underground comic shop where half the team now worked. He sat back and grabbed an idle comic, not breaking his no smoking inside the store policy dor anyone, not even himself, and he waited until everyone was settled back in.

"Wow, a hundred-ten kay! That's some big money. Big money. Alright, so like... how do we plan a job in a place we've never been? Like, can we get some brochures or somethin'?"

"That's what I was thinking, more or less," Caduceus said in reply to Hairy. "I'm going to tap some of my contacts and see if I can't drum up a list of things to try and avoid, as well as things we should keep an eye out for. Like maybe some sort of rare plant worth its weight in gold? You guys got any other questions I should be asking my contacts while I'm at it?" The shaman pulled out his pocket secretary and began organizing his thoughts in the form of a list.

"A good car dealership? No way I'm walking."

“Might be looking too far out if you wanna talk to a good parabotanist. That’s pretty much Julia’s bread and butter. Hell, she’s even Amazonian. First thing we really wanna look into is an alternative exit strategy, honestly. The J’s pitch stunk to high hell, he glossed over too much for there NOT to be an elephant-sized chunk of valuable intel swept under the rug, and I dunno if it’s just me, but any time some suit tells me I shouldn’t be concerned about fine details, I get incredibly concerned.” Duck drums his fingers and calls for Julia in the back of the shop.

“One thing’s certain though, working for that fuckin’ creep. We should also investigate who we’re working for and what their intent is. You don’t send a research team to gather materials, you send them when a new discovery is made. We’ll probably get more detail once we find out who we’re guiding.” He looks to Hairy.

“By the way, Check your pockets, omae, ten kay already there in one of em’. I suggest buying more grenades if you can get em.”

"It never hurts to be cautious," Caduceus conceded to White Duck. Caduceus didn't necessarily agree that their Johnson reached the level of sleaze that White Duck implied, but he trusted the guy enough to at least check it out. "I can make some calls to try and get some more info on our employers. I am certainly interested in Julia's input about parabotany too, but I do have one or two other contacts who's opinions I value as well when it comes to that sort of thing. Nothing personal. Anyone want me to see if I can get them a false-bottom suitcase or something along those lines?"

"Yeah, I saw the money. I'm assuming that's for run supplies, and not you tryin' ta buy off my good behavior."

He furrows his brow for just a moment, before returning to his normal demeanor. "I got a good look at the car, and had some time with his sniper. Good guy, would camp with again. Not sure if you know anyone who can run the plates or anything."

The sniper wasn't clear he was there for a Johnson - and if Hairy had to guess, based on the vehicle he left with, it was more likely he was there with a different runner team, presumably for a different job.

Did Hairy have radio communications with the team so he knew when the meeting with the Johnson started and when it ended and a description of the J?  If so, he can probably narrow the Johnson's vehicle down to a couple of possibilities.  If not, he's probably got the plates of 20+ vehicles, though he might be able to narrow it down a bit based on a post-description of the J.

Duck nods to Hairy.

"Money was for you, omae, do with it what you will, but if you can scrounge up things I can throw that explode, we could both put em' to good use. As for running the plates, let's hold off until we have something solid we can suspect of em'. Honestly, if you can shoot, we could probably use a long-gun too. You know my options are sort of limited at a distance from that whole fiery underground chase thing." Duck looks to Cadeuces, his fingers dancing over a small deck of trading cards in lieu of a cigarette, which he noticeably avoids smoking in-store.

"Yes, fake luggage for sure. I'd also like to suggest you look into alternate transit options when it comes to getting back, just to be on the safe side."

Caduceus nodded to White Duck. Definitely a good suggestion. The shaman went to a quiet corner and dialed up one of his more notable contacts, Sly Mike. The man was a little greasy, but trustworthy. Especially after what the two of them had gone through together. And the man knew his craft and knew it well.

"Sly Mike, it's your old pal Caduceus. I've got a need for some unique items. Think "smuggler's suitcase" for an as-yet determined item. Doesn't have to be a suitcase. I'm mostly just through my options at this point. I'm open to your expert suggestions. And speaking of expert suggestions. Any tips you have for border crossings are welcome as well."

"Ahhh. Snakey!  Ees good to hear you voice!

Smuggling?  Hmm...  Da, I find you something probably.

Ah, you have esteemated size on dees 'undetermeened item'?  For gems, or RPG, or mebbe Johnson who needs for getting lost?"

EDIT: formatting
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:01, Fri 11 Jan 2019.

"Alright guys, I'm gonna go do some shopping."

Since no one else seems to need him at the moment, Harry will hop in his car and drive over to his old stomping grounds, see if he can hook up with the gang and score some gear, and intel on what's worth bringing back as souvenirs in the chemical world.

(Connection: 3 Loyalty: 6)

PM

Koby stops Hairy just before he leaves and asks him for the details of the Johnson’s plate. He wasn’t sure if he could contribute much to this new ‘family’ yet, but he’d give it a try. After Hairy leaves, Koby goes to another corner of the store with better signal and calls Noruas.

Hey Norry, I need you to look up a plate for me. He reads out the plate information recorded by Hairy and continues on, Please let me know if you or your kinda better half have any information on the regions of Amazonia. Oh, and is there anything I should be on the look out for that might be worth selling from that place?

"This for a job?  It'll take me 30, maybe 45.

Haven't had much to do with the folks from down south, other than the Aztech wonks, and those are best avoided.  I'll see what I can dig up on background though.  In terms of stuff to bring back, there's always stuff to bring back if you know where to look.  Where are you going exactly?"

"Unknown as of yet. Nothing too big though, I don't think. Bringing it back from Amazonia, if that helps you know what we'll be up against. If you know anything in the nature-world that might be worth bringing back from there, and you got buyers for it, I'm interested in sales pitches. Can't make any guarantees though." Caduceus wouldn't trust most of his contacts with that much information, but Sly Mike was one of the few exceptions.

<grey>"Amazonia?  You so lucky!!

Unless you are eaten by crocadile.  I hear they very big.  Mebbe don't go near swamp.

So, you are talking live specimens?  Ees needing refrigeration or something?  Or just compartmant you can be using for raw ores?

Amazonia is beeg place.  Where you going?  When you going?  I can mebbe put out feelers, find buyers.  Mike, he always find the buyers, hey?"</grey>

Well, I don't know where exactly I'm going, and that's why I need you to look up that plate for me.  The owner of that plate seems to have some sort of stake or project in Amazonia.  If you can find out what or where that is, then you will know where I'm headed.  Otherwise, I'm kinda in the dark as well.  BTW, I'll be going with your former teammates Ducky and Cad, they send their regards.

"Right now, your question is sort of the equivalent of 'is there anything worth bringing back from North America?'  I'll run the plate.  And once you're there, if you're somewhere with coverage, you can give me a ring if you need me to hack a tree or something.  And at minimum, you can bring me back a bottle of rum or tequilla or whatever dreck they make wherever you are."

Sure thing.  Just make sure you get me the details on the person who that plate belongs to.

Hairy's 'plate' is a bit more of a list right now. "Sorry chummer. Next time put me on a radio or somethin' and I'll just grab the one."