"All I know is we'll be among jungle and water, west of Iquitos. We're departing on Sunday. I'm not sure if refrigeration is strictly necessary, but would probably be good to have that option if it's available. Keep things fresher longer and whatnot. If I learn more about what we'll be dealing with or have access to, I'll let you know."

I'll presume that with Hairy's semi-accurate notes about arrival departure times and subsequent discussion about when the Johnson turned up and left, together with a description of what said Johnson looked like, Hairy's Mag-3 scope and his excellent descriptions ("corp stiff", "corp stiff with attitude", "hot corp stiff"), you can narrow it down to a couple of relatively high probability plates.  No need to amend your posts Koby - will presume you asked for both to be run.

"Will do chummer."

As promised, 30 minutes later, Koby received a text:
QUCZ-00237: Reported stolen five hours ago from a Genetique lot.  Genetique is an Aztech subsidiary into biotech and gene-tech.

HWOR-95115: Pool vehicle for a minor player named Green Growth International (GGI).  They do stuff with flowers and plants.  No known mega-corp affiliations

Tequilla.  And not the cheap stuff.

====================

"You weel have wehicle?  Refrigeration ees taking power, ees not easy for carrying and ees harder for concealing.  Or maybe I sell several options and you choosing when you are knowing more?"

Seeing the message, Koby smiles and chuckles at the last part of the message.

He responds with a message of his own:

I'll see what I can find.

Once he finishes sending back the text, he walks back to the others in the group to share what he has found.  He sends a copy of the details he had gotten from Noruas to the other members of the group and allows them a couple seconds to read it.

Any thoughts on the matter folks?

PM

"I believe we will have a vehicle, at least for the important stretches, but I suppose several options would be good. Even just something that is well insulated from the heat would probably be good. Or jars to put preservative chemicals in them maybe?" Caduceus shrugged, even though Mike couldn't see him. "Could you see what you can scrounge up for me? Unless there was anything else you needed to know, I have a few other calls I should probably make. Tight schedule and all..."

Duck looks to Julia.

"So, wanna get together a shopping list for the store for this Amazonia trip?" he asks casually while the pair enjoy a quiet moment in the shop. Duck thumbs through an old reprint of "House of Secrets" volume 92, the introduction of Swamp Thing. Duck's bags were already packed, but he thought about all of the things he'd utilize in a jungle and wondered if his city-dwelling gear would be adequate.

"Think I need to go shopping for jungle stuff too. Got any advice on that?"

"I weel find for you.  You come tomorrow night and see?"

=============================

"Hmm.  For you, sun screen is most important mi fantasma pálido.  While there will be shade, the sun will quickly turn a gringo like you into a lobster.  Oh, and spray for the bugs.  If I was there, I would make you some, but it is hard to find the ingredients here.  Good boots, perhaps a machete for the vines, clothing that will not mind the wet or the heat.  A good hat.  The jungle is a paradise for an hour, but for one such as you, it will be a hell before long, I think.  Let us go shopping and I will find something for you"

If you're willing to put up with her teasing as she dresses you, she'll get you outfitted in appropriate clothing, complete with a machette, hat, some decent bug spray and a few changes of clothes for ¥600.


EDIT: formatting
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:59, Mon 21 Jan 2019.

"Tomorrow night? Yeah, I should be able to make that work. See ya then." Caduceus hung up the phone with Mike, then headed over to the others to let them know the details.

"So, I just got off the phone with one of my guys. He's going to set us up with an assortment of luggage with hidden compartments and similar things." Then, noting they were discussing clothing, he added, "I got a clothes guy too, so if you need help finding anything specific, he might be able to help hook you up."

"I was thinking I would call one of my deckers and see if he could compile us a list of valuables in the area we are headed to. Then assuming it is a lot of nature-based stuff, contact my shaman buddy to see if he knows what people who would be interested in buying so we know where to focus our attention. And if we think we might be collecting animal specimens, maybe I could also ring up my mortician friend and see if they could hook us up with some appropriate preservatives. But we'll worry about that when we come to it." He looked to the others to see if they had any suggestions to modify that plan.

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea Cad.  It would be a good idea if you can hook us up and get us some sort of storage container for each of us so that we can collect stuff to bring back.  Just let me know how much the containment unit might cost.  If you don't mind, I'd like to join you in looking for some of that stuff to sell.  I don't know of anyone in that business, but if you can help me sell my portion of it, we could probably make a nice side bonus.

Hairy needs to also go shopping for some additional camo. Nearly forgot about that. Same contacts, jungle, full-suit. A helmet to go with would be swell too. You want me to roll negotiations for that?

Yes please

PM

Caduceus's mortition responds first.  Kaira usually worked nights.  She said it suited the work.  "It depends what you're preserving and how big.  Bugs and stuff you can just just dry out.  But for animals, and other things with blood, you can either stick them in a vat of formaldehyde or replace the blood one-for-one with a preservative.  I can get you some of the chemicals, but the gear to actually do the replacement isn't cheap - and it sure as drek isn't portable."

The feedback from the decker comes the next night.

Virgin anything might get you a few nuyen from the local area talismongers. However, if you're looking for a better return, here are a few possibilities:
- Shotozumi is looking to replace his school of piranha.  Apparently the last individual he fed to them had a concealed a grenade and blew himself up to avoid being eaten, but took most of the fish with him.
- The wood of the Sangra Del Diablo is pretty valuable.  Just don't let the tree eat you
- If you can catch one, the feathers of the Alicanto are worth far more than the gold they're made out of
- There's a lot of Orichalchum in the region, though finding a spot the Jap-corps haven't already mined out is going to be a bit challenging

So far, Hairy's got a new outfit and some things that go boom, White Duck has some new duds (though you didn't confirm you were buying ony of them) and Caduceus will soon be picking up some special luggage.  You've got leads on the two plates you identified.  There's 24 hours to go before your flight is scheduled.  Any other shopping, investigation, entertainment or anything else you want to do in the interim?

Duck indulges himself the shopping spree and picks up outfits for the rest of his crew, calling and taking sizes/measurements in advance.

Sorry for the delay boss, busy workweeks ongoing. Get back to me with my total- Assuming 1800 since Hairy already has an outfit?

So a similar set of duds for each of you, Hairy excluded?  Julia can swing that - she knows you well enough she can pick appropriate sizes.  She could have done that with White Duck too, but then she wouldn't have had the chance to make you into her temporary Ken doll...

We'll make it an even ¥2k and she'll grab Hairy some sun screen, repellent, boots and a machete.

Anything else anyone is doing?  (And no worries about real life intervening)

To Kiara the mortician he replied, "Don't think I will be interested in replacing any fluids where I'm going, but I'll take a jar or two of formaldehyde if ya got it. Thanks chummer."

---

Then, to Lord Abyss, he replied, "Thanks for the info. That is exactly the type of stuff I wanted to know. Don't think I'll be bringing back any live fish, but I'll certainly keep an eye out for the others. You don't happen to have a field guide for recognizing a Sangra Del Diablo, an Alicanto, or Orichalchum, do you? If not, I'm sure that's something I could look up myself. By the sounds of it I'll know 'em when I see 'em."

---

Finally, Caduceus dialed up the owner of a snake-dedicated shamanic lodge he knew of. "Mr. B? I may be coming into certain items from Amazonia in the near future that could be of use in upgrading lodges or for creating fetishes. Could you send out your feelers and see what the interest level is for such items? And if anyone is looking for anything specific that they would pay more for? I got about 24 hours or so."

Kiara arranged to drop off 2 1-litre used pickle-jars full of formaldehyde when she was done work - which was right about the time Caduceus usually pulled himself out of bed.
"50 Nuyen - plus you owe me a coffee date when you get back from whatever dreck-hole you're off to..."


The way I hear it, the Sangra del Diablo is more likely to find you, than you find it.  However, if you see a bunch of blood-like sap on the ground, you've probably got your tree.
Alicantro looks like a golden hawk.  Literally golden.  Don't try to bring back a live one.  Planes with them aboard have a habbit of falling out of the sky.
Orichalcum is goldy-orange and makes you fart magic rainbows or something.  If you're gonna find any, it's because it's too buried or concealed for the Japs to have already found it.  One pound'll net you a couple mil.  Make sure I get a cut :)


Charles picks up your call on the first ring.  "Ah, Caduceus.  Nice to hear from you son.

Amazonia, eh?  Most plants from there would have at least some value, spared the poisons we've dumped into so much of the world here in the north.  A lot has to do with the collection.  It's important to respect the natural space you draw them from.  If the spirit of the plant is injured, it will be of little use.  Even stones may have value.  Listen to your totem and he will guide you.  I'm sure I can find a market for at least some of what you find.  Keep a watch out for our bretheren.  They are far more numerous in those lands, but not all are friendly.

Koby sends White Duck a text message with his sizes and requests him to buy things on a list:

1) Grapple gun
2) Grapple line (100m)
3) Stealth line (100m)
4) Catalyst stick
5) A/D harness
6) A/D kit
7) Rope (50m)
8) Microflare launcher (BTW, is this a one shot per load kind of launcher?  Or does it have a clip or magazine?)
9) Microflare (25 rounds)
10) Ration bars (24 bars or 8 days worth.  I forgot how its sold.)
11) Some sort of navigational GPS for the region.
12) Respirator
13) Regulator for respirator
14) Some sort of harness or backpack to hold everything in.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Wed 30 Jan 2019.

"All good advice," Caduceus replied to Charles. "I will be sure to follow it. Thanks again. I'll talk with you more when I get back." After hanging up the phone, he began making arrangements for the last items he would need for the trip. It sounded like White Duck had basic clothing and stuff under control, so he focused more on other items. He already had a survival kit, so all he would need to do there was make sure it was up to date and in good repair. He did want to collect some antidote patches though, since who knew what kinds of plants and animals they would encounter. And some binoculars. Never hurt to be able to see far when you were outside. Some ration bars and microflares wouldn't hurt either, in case of emergency. Maybe a container with a lot of compartments too, for storing some of his finds.

---

I marked off 50 bucks for the formaldehyde.

Shopping List:
Binoculars, optical glass variant. Lowlight and Thermographic if available.
5 Microflares
Pack of 10 Ration Bars
10 antidote patches, as good as I can get.
Tacklebox with a lot of lidded compartments.

Julie was able to swing pretty much everything on Koby's list, with the exception of the stealth line and catalyst stick.
Also includes camo suit and survival kit even though you didn't request those IC

"Don't know what he thinks he needs those for.  Where you're going, there's vines aplenty.  Just don't grab a snake by mistake."

White Duck sweet-talked her into not adding her usual markup, bringing the cost to a quite reasonable ¥4,600

"You do realize that the canopy's going to be 10 meters thick, right?  So your flare's gonna scare the dreck out of a few birds and fizzle in some wet leaves.  Presuming you're lucky enough that it doesn't just bounce off a branch and set fire to your head.  Yet another reason to always wear your hat..."

Caduceus was quickly informed that he can have low-light and thermographic, or he can have all optical.  If he wants low light or thermographic too with optical, he's going to have to learn himself a spell or two.  She digs up a single rating 5 patch and a couple of rating 4 patches.

"That's the most I can do on short notice.  So don't get bit."

I assumed you also wanted a micro flare launcher.  Also got you 10 days supply of ration bars, as that's how they're sold.

¥1,500

She also digs up a set of forearm guards for White Duck himself (¥150).  They look used, but functional.  She eyes him quizically when he asks for additional armor for under his suit.  She digs around and pulls out an armored vest. (¥130 if you take it)

"You're gonna sweat like a pig"
Layered armor rules will apply, so you'll be 6/3 wearing it, but suffer a +2 penalty on all quickness-related tests

============================

Sly Mike meets Caduceus at a warehouse and seemed unusually pleased with himself.  He's standing beside a pair of 2' x 2' x 2' crates.  He reached in and pulled out a small roll-aboard suitcase and opened it, showing it was empty.  Then with a big grin, he flipped a small lever tucked within one of the swiveling wheels and the bottom of the suitcase popped up, revealing a 4-cm deep compartment, approximately the size of a sheet of legal paper.

"Do not use for guns.  And not so good for airport.  The X-Rays, she will see what ees there, so make eet not suspicious on X-ray.  But good for checkstops.  Ees best to fill with dirty underwear and sweaty socks.  They not search so close.  And maybe eet confuse da dogs."

The next thing out of the crate was a locking briefcase.  Set the right code and a panel was released.

The last was a good-sized black backpack.  A small zipper hidden at the bottom revealed a 2-inch compartment.

"But that ees not all!"

He popped the lid off the second crate and pointed to the contents.  Caduceus leaned over to see - an empty crate.

"Ees nice, da?  Now take this and hold near bottom"  The fixer passed over a small, but fairly heavy magnet and Caduceus leaned into the crate, his arm extended.  The fixer yanked him back.

"Niet!  On outside.  Here."  He guided the shaman's hand down to the bottom of the crate.  When the magnet came into contact with the side, one of the boards of the crate rotated down, exposing an insulated area covering the width and depth of the crate with a height of about 5 cm.  On one side was a thin cilinder.  Mike gestured to it.

Ees liquid CO2.  You turn dial and releases small spray.  Keeps content cool.  Like fridge.  Lasts, mebbe 2 days, depending how much you dial and how hot ees crate.  Very nice, yes?  Second crate, she ees same.  I tell you Mike fix you up good.  Even weeth only two days.

And for you, only ¥15k.  Ees good deal, da?"

Ok, shopping is done, except perhaps hitting the Stuffer Shack on the way to the airport in the morning.  Everyone update your inventory and your cash on hand.  Then tell me in the OOC thread what you're bringing.  Kate, this'd be a good time to make your entrance... :>

Kate leans into the conversation.

"Did I hear you guys are heading out of town?  for... business?

I could help... I am good in a fight with magic and, well, I need to find a place to go quick.  Family business problems.

I can take care of myself"

"Oh wow, Mike, you have really outdone yourself here! These are great!" Caduceus entertained himself for a moment, playing with the hidden compartments on the different objects. Then, with a slightly sunken face, he added, "But some of these are a bit bulkier than I had envisioned. I'm not sure I'll be able to trek through a jungle with a crate strapped to my back..." He gave Sly Mike a tight-lipped frown, then said, "I'll definitely pay you what's fair for the time and effort you put into these, but I'm not sure it will be feasible to bring all of them with. Let me consult with my team quick and see what their thoughts are."

Caduceus stepped a few paces away to ring up his team members and get their opinions on which containers they should bring along.

---

I figured whoever wants to give their opinion on the containers could be the one Caduceus called directly.

Copying my roll from the OOC thread.
14:08, Today: Caduceus rolled 2 successes using 5d6 with the Shadowrun system with a target of 4 with rolls of 5,2,5,1,1.  Negotiation (Bargain) with Sly Mike.

A few days before the trip, Hairy will start staging his bags in the comics shop. Duffels full of grenades and little glass vials of chemicals, a backpack of clothes and bags of chips, all topped off with a light machine gun and two belts of ammunition.

"Alright, I think I got everything... You think they'll have someone to help carry stuff when we get there? Cause I got one of those rolling shopping carts out in the car."

Just a note that the meeting with the Johnson was 2 days prior to departure, so I'm assuming Hairy meant "a few hours" rather than "a few days"?

I'll give a couple of days for people to tell Caduceus what they want brought, then we'll get you guys on the road.  (Or in the air, as the case may be...)

Kate walks over more directly.

Guys?  Do you need a fire elementalist to help keep you safe?  I'm available and ready to travel